News – Page 4 – Stirling UNISON

Local Government Pay 2025/26

Bargaining briefing LG Pay 2025

Following our consultative ballots, all three trade unions urged the employers to present a revised offer before the anniversary date of April 1st, 2025.

Last week, UNISON wrote to the employers, reiterating the significant discontent among local government employees. We highlighted that the recent pay offer to NHS staff by the Scottish Government has intensified this feeling. UNISON emphasised that our members are frustrated with being treated as second-class citizens regarding pay. We stressed that any revised offer must match or exceed the NHS settlement, considering previous agreements.

The Scottish Government’s ability to secure resources for the NHS pay offer demonstrates that they can value public service workers when motivated, showing that where there’s a will, there’s a way.

We again offered to make a joint representation to the Scottish Government to advocate for additional funding to enable a fair settlement for local government employees.

The employers responded with no revised offer, noting our position.

Consequently, UNISON began issuing notice to over 60 employers of our intent to ballot for industrial action. The ballot will open on May 1st, 2025, and run for six weeks.

We have issued a press release, available here: https://unison-scotland.org/council-staff-to-be-issued-with-strike-ballots-in-dispute-over-pay-says-unison/. This can be adapted for local use. We have also attached the latest bargaining brief and a high-resolution graphic for local communications. A leaflet detailing the current position, ballot timings, and how to request a replacement ballot will be available within the next day or so for distribution to members.

Furthermore, the local government committee and staff are developing a workshop to be rolled out over the next few weeks to help achieve a successful ballot result.

We will continue to keep you informed and work with you throughout this process.

International Workers’ Memorial Day on Monday 28 April

Trade Union’s and Stirling Council will mark International Workers’ Memorial Day on Monday 28 April, to remember all those around the world who have lost their lives at work, or from work-related injury or disease.

We invite everyone to participate in the national one-minute silence at 12:00 noon on April 28th, 2025. Please join your trade unions, management, elected members, and colleagues in honouring this moment of reflection. Let’s come together to observe the minute’s silence.

UNISON Stirling Branch has sponsored the Wallace Monument to be illuminated in purple on Monday, April 28th. This gesture supports the Hazards campaign, which uses the colour purple to remember and honour those killed or injured at work

As in previous years, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial tree in the grounds of Old Viewforth, which will take place on Friday 25 April at 10:45.

Timetable as follows:

10:45 Gather in the grounds of Old Viewforth, beside the memorial tree

welcome by Kate Hudson, Head of People and Community Wellbeing
speeches by Trade Union representatives

10:55 Laying of the wreaths, followed by a 1 minute silence.

This year’s ITUC theme continues as Health & Safety as a Fundamental Right at Work and looking at the growing threat of Artificial Intelligence

Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be used to mitigate monotonous work. AI at work is increasing work intensification, monitoring and surveillance . Generating negative impacts on mental and physical wellbeing As workers experience the extreme pressure of constant, real-time micromanagement and automated assessment.

UNISON Workers Vote to Strike for Fair Pay

UNISON has announced that council workers have voted to back industrial action in a dispute over pay.

The union says more than 92% of those who took part in a consultation are in favour of striking.

Local government employer body Cosla has offered all council workers in Scotland a 3% increase for 2025-26.

UNISON Scotland’s local government committee will now meet. They will discuss the next steps in balloting their members formally. This is over strike action.

For more information see UNISON Scotland – https://unison-scotland.org/local-government-workers-vote-overwhelmingly-to-support-industrial-action/

Standing with our social work members on World Social Work Day

Greetings to all our social work members on World Social Work Day, today, 18 March 2025.

Today UNISON Scotland stands with all our social work members to celebrate and promote the social work profession.

This year’s theme is ‘Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for Enduring Wellbeing’, which emphasises the importance of caring and respecting across generations to build strong societies, sustain the environment, and share wisdom for a better future.

UNISON represents all those who are involved in providing a social work service, including admin staff, paraprofessionals and OTs. All are an important part of the social work team delivering services to our most vulnerable citizens.

UNISON Scotland’s Social Work Issues Group (SWIG) brings together members working in social work from across Scottish local authorities.

We have spearheaded a great many initiatives over past years to highlight the key issues for our social work members – overwork, too high caseloads, too much bureaucracy, high levels of staff absence and burnout, lack of supervision and support amongst others. We have continued to press strongly for increased investment in frontline services and other measures to address our members’ concerns. Where appropriate we work in partnership with organisations such as Social Work Scotland, OCSWA and SASW.

We have also been keen to highlight and promote the excellent practice that goes on out there despite these significant challenges. This includes our monthly webinars promoting radical social work, in which we ensure the voice of practitioners is always represented.

Please select this link and look at the UNISON Scotland Social Work pages on our website. Social Work – UNISON Scotland.

There you will find our Charter of Demands to End the Crisis in Social Work, launched at our Social Work Conference in October 2024, which sets out the actions that are needed now to support staff.

Other recent work includes our response to the “Future of Foster Care” consultation, Future of Foster Care Response – UNISON Scotland; our paper on Care Management and whether it is the right way to provide adult care services Care Management: Fit for Purpose? – UNISON Scotland; and briefings on the proposed National Social Work Agency. At present, we are collating members’ views to respond to the consultation on the registration of paraprofessionals.

From an international perspective, we issued a statement of solidarity with our colleagues in Gaza in February 2024 – Social Work Issues Group Statement on Gaza

On World Social Work Day, and on every other day, UNISON stands in solidarity with our social work members and thanks you all for the important work you do.

If you would like to know more about SWIG or would be interested in joining please Karen Davidson, Lead Organiser Social Work – karen.davidson@unison.co.uk

Urgent Action for Climate Emergency: UNISON’s Role

The climate emergency is happening now. It’s directly impacting UNISON members, their workplaces and the crucial services they provide.

The UK Committee on Climate Change has said the next decade is critical in preventing climate breakdown.

As a union, we have a vital role to play in campaigning for greener politics, working with employers to make workplaces more sustainable.

By harnessing the collective power of our membership, we’ll ensure a safe, healthy and thriving future for generations to come.

Bargaining of Green Issues https://www.unison.org.uk/our-campaigns/green-unison

Announcing the Year of Green Activity – 2026 – https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2025/02/opinion-announcing-the-year-of-green-activity-2026/

Sam Macartney Award for International Solidarity

Our Stirling UNISON International Officer, Tony Caleary, has been recognised for his hard work and commitment to International Solidarity.

Sam Macartney was the long-standing chair, then co-chair, of UNISON Scotland’s International Committee. He was known throughout the union for his promotion of international solidarity. Tragically Sam died in 2020, far too early.

The International Committee decided they wanted to honour Sam’s contribution to UNISON’s international agenda and carry on his work in promoting internationalism within the union and beyond. They therefore established the Sam Macartney Award for International Solidarity to be awarded to an individual, branch, or Self-Organised Group in Scotland who has worked to promote international solidarity.