Category: News

You are invited to attend the 2023 Scottish Black Members Networking day, which will be held on Saturday 28^th October 2023 at our Edinburgh Office. 

Your networking day is an amazing opportunity to meet your Scottish Black Members Committee, Black Members Officers and Activists from across Scotland.  Your voice and opinion is vitally important as UNISON members shape our committee, vote on important decisions and promote equality in the workplace. 

UNISON Black Members includes members with Asian, Arab, African, Caribbean and other Black or mixed ethnic origins or backgrounds.

Come along and get involved! There is no need to prepare a report or be an expert, all you need is yourself and enthusiasm to make a difference to Scottish Black Workers.  

Please see details below and register your attendance. We look forward to seeing you.  

This week we have seen our fellow workers from Schools and Early Years settings on the picket lines striking for Fair Pay for all. Bannockburn Primary and High School, Balfron High, Braehead, Borestone, Callander, Fallin Primary, Raploch Campus, St Ninians Primary and Nursery, Stirling High, McLaren High, and Wallace High all came out on 26, 27, and 28 September, many bringing their children and some also brought their dogs along.

The public honked their horns and waved, and some local people came along with flasks of tea and coffee showing support for our members who are striking for fair pay for all council employees.

Many of our members also joined the rally held at the Scottish Parliament building on Wednesday 27^th where they united with members from all over Scotland to protest against Cosla’s latest pay offer.

UNISON won’t trade pay for jobs and vital services that our communities rely on.

Today saw the first day of Stike action throughout Scotland. Stirling workers turned out early to stand up and be heard. Below you can see pictures from the schools and the picket lines. Please support your fellow workers, they are striking for all local authority employees for fair pay

This afternoon, after our initial deadline and COSLA’s additional extension, we received a further revised offer from COSLA see below.

The UNISON local government committee has met to consider our response to this revised pay offer.  Our committee has decided:

• The strike action planned for next week will proceed.
• The revised offer will be put to members in a consultative ballot (further details on this will follow)
• The recommendation to members in that consultation is to REJECT the offer.

We have written to COSLA outlining this and giving them our reasons for doing so (attached).

We are in the process of communicating this to the press and members but please feel free to share this on your social media channels.

Please find below UNISON Scotland’s submission to the Scottish Government and COSLA Consultation on a Fairer Council Tax.

The proposals in this consultation are to raise higher band council tax bills, providing increased funds to local authorities. While we broadly agree with the changes, the response sets out important context in giving qualified approval, particularly the need for sustainable funding for local government.

It concludes by urging the Scottish Government and COSLA to prioritise reform urgently, replacing the council tax with a progressive property tax.

The Energy Support Fund will open on 27 September, with grants of £200 available to support low-income members with their energy costs.

Due to finite funds, we can only accept 2,000 applications. 1,000 will be released at 8.30am and 1,000 at 5pm.

In previous rounds of this fund, demand has been so high that applications open and close within hours, so if you plan to apply, it might be helpful to set a reminder.

Full details on eligibility and how to apply are on the UNISON website here: https://www.unison.org.uk/get-help/services-support/there-for-you/energy-support-fund-2/