Category: News

On 3^rd April COSLA, the employers’ organisation, made an offer for this year’s pay award.

The offer consists of several elements which will be differentiated depending on how much you earn.

Basically, all workers will be offered 5% onto their salary from 1^st April this year. With a further percentage amount payable from 1^st January 2024, this will be differentiated depending on how much you earn.

If your hourly rate is below £14.78 a 2.5% additional percentage will be applied on 1^st January 2024

If your hourly rate is between £14.78 and £19.71 then a 1.5% additional percentage will be applied on 1^st January 2024

If your hourly rate is above £19.71 then an additional 1% from 1^st January 2024.

At the end of the proposed pay increases the Local Government living wage will have been increased by 99 Pence.

So all workers will receive 5% now plus either 2.5,1.5 or 1% on 1^st January 2024.

Any pay claim for 2024/25 will still be due/implemented on 1^st April going forward.

There are various commitments on working with the joint trade unions to work towards a minimum rate of £15 ph within local government and other issues raised within our pay claim.

UNISON Local Government Committee recommend that you vote to REJECT this offer.

We are asking you to reject because this offer falls far short of our joint claim and it does not even give parity to other pay offers within the public sector and is not in line with the offer made to Teachers.

Please remember if you do vote to reject then it could be likely that we would need to take industrial action to achieve more.

In the past UNISON members in Stirling have shown that they are prepared to stand up for decent pay.

Together we can do that again.

Vote Reject and show that we are worth more.

You should now have received a voting link to the e-mail address we have for you. This may go into your Junk folder. If you have not yet received this you should contact the branch immediately.

It is important that you vote, we need as many voices as possible to say that we need and deserve more

All ballot FAQs are on the web here https://unison-scotland.org/local-government-pay-23-24/

The UNISON Migrant Worker Network is a new, informal network of UNISON members across the UK with a first-generation immigrant background including overseas and migrant workers, EU-settled status workers and workers who have subsequently naturalised as British citizens or who have indefinite leave to remain.

Members can now identify and update their membership records as migrant workers using the following link, which will enable UNISON to target advice, support, and information more effectively.

https://www.unison.org.uk/unison-migrant-worker-network/

Below is a leaflet with information and a QR code that members can use to join. It also promotes our free immigration helpline.

International Workers’ Memorial Day, celebrated around the world and annually in Stirling, is held to remember those who have lost their lives at work, or from work-related injuries or diseases. Building on last year’s theme of a safe and healthy work environment as a right for workers, this year’s focus is on the core union priority of organising health and safety.

To mark this annual event, we would like to invite you to attend a short wreath laying service at the memorial tree on the grounds of Old Viewforth, on Friday 28^th April 2023 at 11:00.

The occasion provides an opportunity to remember those who have died, in Scotland and around the world, and the event serves as an important reminder that our collective efforts can and should ensure such tragedies are not repeated.

10:55    Gather on the grounds of Old Viewforth

11:00    Attendees assemble at the memorial tree

• Trade Union representatives invited to speak
  • Laying of the wreaths
  • Minute of silence

11:30    Ceremony ends

Following a meeting of COSLA Leaders on Friday 31^st March we received a pay offer late yesterday afternoon.  Please see SJC pay offer

Your local government committee met immediately to consider this offer and has agreed to consult members on it with a recommendation to reject it.  This consultation will start this week and conclude before the next scheduled meeting of COSLA Leaders on the 28th of April.  Full details of the consultation with supporting FAQs etc will follow.

The full details of the Committee’s reasons for their decision are outlined in our letter to COSLA here Letter to Cosla re pay 030423

This has also on the website here: https://unison-scotland.org/local-government-workers-advised-to-reject-new-pay-offer-say-unison/

As one of UNISON’s approved providers who work with people like yourself, we want to help make all members aware of the fantastic deals and offers that are exclusively available to them via UNISON Living as a key part of their member benefits.

We want to make sure all members get the chance to enter the £250 cash-free prize draw and/or apply for the UNISON NHS Dental Plan.

The UNISON Free Prize Draw to win £250 of Shopping Vouchers is open to enter until the 30th April 2023 so put your name in the hat now – it only takes a few seconds using the button/link below (or simply reply to this email saying “Agree & Enter”).This UNISON free prize draw is available to you, your friends, family and colleagues and there’s no purchase obligation. You may post the prize draw link of https://offers01.unionbenefits.co.uk onto your social media or email it so others can enter for free too.

As some of you will already be aware at the Special Council Meeting today, Elected Members voted for an additional day’s fixed leave on Monday, May 8 in recognition of the Coronation. Those required to work on that day would be able to take it at another time agreed with their manager/service. Colleagues in HR are now drawing up details of how this will work and will update staff next week.
Our understanding is that this will mainly be implemented as it was for the Queen’s Jubilee and the Queen’s funeral.