It is essential that all members attend our live online Rally with our General Secretary, Christina McAneaon the 19th of September 2023, at 6.30p.m.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1065690591473754?ref=newsfeed
Details of this can be found on the UNISON Scotland website www.unison-scotland.org.uk
Yesterday evening COSLA sent us a revised pay offer. We had no heads-up that this was coming.
This morning our Local Government committee met to consider our response to the revised offer which is attached.
The UNISON Scotland Local Government committee voted unanimously to reject the revised offer outright. We will keep all members updated as matters progress. We have attached our latest response to COSLA also for your information.
More than three quarters of Scotland’s schools face closure later this month in a dispute over pay, as UNISON announces strike dates.
The action will affect primary and secondary schools in 24 local authorities, with 76% of Scotland’s schools affected (1,868 schools).
UNISON, Scotland’s largest local government union, says more than 21,000 members will take part in the action over three days from Tuesday, 26 to Thursday, 28 September. The union served 14 days’ notice of the strike action to employers earlier today (Thursday)
UNISON Scotland’s head of local government, Johanna Baxter said: “Going on strike is always a last resort – our members want to be in schools supporting children not on picket lines outside them. But they have been left with no option. Local government workers overwhelmingly rejected COSLA’s below-inflation pay offer back in March and despite our repeated representations no improvement has been forthcoming.
A real-terms pay cut in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis is a cut our members simply cannot afford. This is not a highly-paid workforce – three quarters of local government workers earn less than the average Scottish wage. All they want is to be paid fairly for the vital work they do supporting Scotland’s communities – COSLA and the Scottish Government need to get back round the table and work with us to deliver that.”
Chair of UNISON Scotland’s local government committee, Mark Ferguson said: “Our members are steadfast in their resolve to fight for fair pay. COSLA’s offer falls short of UNISON’s pay claim, it is also less than the offer made to the lowest paid local government staff south of the border. No-one wants to see schools close but COSLA need to come back with a significantly improved pay offer very soon if strike action is to be avoided. We remain committed to engaging in negotiations with COSLA and the Scottish Government at any point to try to resolve this dispute.”
| You have delivered the strongest ever UNISON mandate for strike action for an improved pay deal for all local government workers in Scotland. Because of your action, UNISON have a strike mandate in 24 councils in Scotland. The full results are below. While every council ballot in Scotland returned an overwhelming yes to strike vote, trade union laws require a 50% turnout for us to take strike action. UNISON school staff beat the 50% ballot threshold in 24 councils. This is UNISON’s strongest ever strike ballot result in local government in Scotland. What happens next? UNISON Scotland’s local government committee meet on Monday, and we will announce further industrial action in the coming days. UNISON will do all it can to get back around the table with COSLA. We are well aware that you want to be in school working with children – not out on picket lines closing schools. But we are in no doubt of the resolve of UNISON members to take strike action for an improved pay deal for all local government workers. UNISON is the largest representative body of local government workers by far, and we take our responsibility to ensure that all industrial action is legally compliant very seriously – so you are protected if you are on strike. Please look out for further emails and social media or contact your local branch for more information. |
Thank you
Thank you to every one of you who voted, and for taking action on behalf of all of local government workers. It is vital that your voice is heard, you have shown the strength of your union.
If you want to see the full scrutineers’ report, please phone UNISON Direct on 0800 0857 857.
Johanna Baxter, UNISON Scotland head of local government
Mark Ferguson, chair of UNISON Scotland’s local government committee
Thursday 17 August at 6pm featuring Christina McAnea
Waste service colleagues in Unison Perth & Kinross and Stirling Unison stand united for fair pay for all local government workers as part of our pay campaign. We are demanding Cosla pays up now, it’s time for a better deal.
Stirling Waste workers picketed over 4 days of industrial action for all local government workers to get Cosla back around the table to offer us a better deal and a fair pay.
The workers from Waste stayed throughout the rain and the occasional bit of sunshine to show support for all employees for a better deal. Around 90 Stirling members attended over their shift and passers by honked their horns in support of the workers.
Thanks to you the public for your support!
Stirling UNISON 