News – Page 3 – Stirling UNISON

UNISON Scotland LG SJC Pay Update

SJC Pay Uplift 2024 – 2025

Standing Together for a Fair Deal

COSLA’s decision to impose an unfair pay award does not mean we are giving up. Instead, we are moving to the next stage of our campaign. Our consultative ballot showed an overwhelming rejection of the current offer, with over 86% of members voting to reject it. This clear message from our members highlights that the offer is insufficient and unfair. As a result, we are taking the step to ballot 90,000 council members in Scotland for strike action.

UNISON’s Commitment to Action

UNISON already has live strike mandates at 19 employers, we will identify the most effective areas for action and will move quickly to set dates, giving notice in selected employers. Additionally we are finalising a timetable to ballot our entire membership affected by this local government pay settlement for Industrial Action.

A Bitter Disappointment

The decision by COSLA to unilaterally impose a wage rise already rejected by a majority of the workforce is a bitter disappointment, choosing to disregard the overwhelming rejection of the offer by UNISON members in the consultative ballot.

Just days before the announcement, COSLA’s lead negotiator, Councillor Katie Hagman, and the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government & Finance, Shona Robinson MSP, assured us they were committed to a negotiated settlement.

This decision ranks among the poorest of employment practices, even worse than those seen in longer-running disputes within the rail industry and the NHS doctors.

The Inadequate Offer

The current offer from COSLA includes an hourly increase of 67p (or 3.6%), whichever is higher. However, this falls short of expectations, especially considering the 25% real-terms pay cut over the past 14 years.

Part of the reason Councils are in Crisis

Councils are in a state of crisis, grappling with severe recruitment challenges. Workers are being asked to do more with fewer resources and lower wages. Local authority employees and the essential services they provide are under untenable pressure. The only viable solution is to provide these dedicated staff with the higher pay rise they rightly deserve.

Our Members: The Backbone of Society

Council staff, our members, are the backbone of society, providing essential services that keep everything running smoothly. It’s both upsetting and infuriating to see them so undervalued. Politicians have enjoyed pay rises upwards of 6.7%, yet they tell dedicated workers to limit their expectations. Our members made it clear in the consultation ballot that this disparity is unacceptable and must be addressed immediately.

Demanding Fairness

UNISON members are rightly outraged that the current offer falls significantly short of their pay claim and is well below the 5.5% awarded to NHS colleagues. Despite Cosla claiming to value each member of their workforce, they have employed the poorest of employment practices by imposing an unfair pay offer. Finance Secretary Shona Robison’s mention of staff receiving this unfair pay settlement before Christmas is little consolation. Local Government workers deserve a decent pay rise, not just a payment to tide them over the festive period.

A Call to Action

Our members need a pay offer that takes a significant step in restoring the value of our pay. It must be fair, and we need it now—no more promises of cake tomorrow. Stand together, demand fairness, and fight for the pay rise you deserve.

UNISON: United for Fair Pay – What can you do ?

Our strength and solidarity are our greatest assets and together, we can make a difference in our fight for a fair deal for all

Before the ballot, we ask all members to take immediate action by contacting their Councillors and MPs. By writing to them, you can build pressure and demonstrate the strength of our collective voice.

This will only take a few minutes but is vital in building pressure.

• Email Your Councillor: You can send a pre-drafted email asking your councillor to support a fair pay rise for council workers. Click here to Email Your Councillor.
• Email Your MP: Similarly, you can email your MP, explaining why local government workers need a proper pay rise and highlighting the impact of funding cuts. Click here to Email Your MP.

These emails can be personalised if desired and can also be used by friends and family, so feel free to circulate this call to action far and wide.

Finally you can read our latest update here: UNISON Scotland – Local Government Strike Ballot Could Be Extended to More Workers. https://unison-scotland.org/local-government-strike-ballot-could-be-extended-to-more-workers/

Let’s ensure every UNISON member gets the respect and pay they deserve.

Have a great Christmas New Year

Just a brief and final update for 2023. It’s been quite a year!

This year has been unprecedented in terms of the workload, levels of disputes and the time and commitment you have given in pursuit of safer workplaces, fair pay etc… and all whilst continuing to deliver the valuable services all year round to the communities you serve.

The UNISON Stirling Branch members in Waste Services and Education and Early Years services here in Scotland have played a key role in delivering strike action in pursuit of a fairer pay claim for all Local Government Workers. Again we have achieved the highest pay award yet in Local Government, we have seen our highest recruitment levels within the branch over the last 6 months and delivered successful campaigns. We have hit it out the park and all thanks to the combined efforts of all our members and activists.

We want to thank each and every one of you who have participated in the work of our union/branch and achieved strength and success as a consequence. It will stand us in good stead for the challenges ahead.

We are absolutely confident we will succeed again next year and work forward through what will again be an ultimately challenging year for Local Government.

If you are a member that may be struggling financially particularly at this time of year please remember that our Branch can offer financial support through our UNISON “There For You” Charity. To find out more please contact our branch Welfare Officer Julie Morrison by e-mailing morrisonju@stirling.gov.uk

Our UNISON members Xmas party was a great success and hopefully has seen a lovely finish to the year for those members that attended.

Have a great Christmas New Year and for those of you who will be working hard throughout the festive period providing vital public services, support and assistance and doing what you do best, please know how much you are appreciated and we do hope you manage to have some restful time and a great festive season with your loved ones.

Again, thank you

Best wishes,

Lorraine Thomson
UNISON Stirling Branch Secretary
Viewforth
Stirling
FK8 2ET

e-mail address thomsonl34s @stirlingcouncil
Branch tel. 01786 233093 or mobile 07826903559

Winter Fuel Grant Opens 25 January

The Winter Fuel Grant programme opens at 10am on Wednesday 25 January, applications will be made via an online form. The grant is a one-off, non-repayable grant of £200 to help UNISON’s most vulnerable low-income members and to help ease the worry of paying for their next fuel bill during the coldest months of the year.

The application only requests limited information, including, name, membership number and email address, to make it as easy as possible to apply. You can find further information on eligibility and the application process on the UNISON website.

The grant programme will close once 2,000 applications have been received.

Winter fuel grant 2023 eligibility  

Applicants must:  

be a UNISON member and have paid at least four weeks subscriptions as of 25th January. Subscriptions must be up to date;
not have been a successful recipient of our recent energy support fund grant;  
not have received a grant from UNISON Welfare since 31 July 2022, excluding the school clothing grant;  
not have received more than £750 in UNISON Welfare grants if applying within the first year of membership;   
have savings (including the total rolling balance on current accounts) below £1,000 to qualify.;  
must be responsible (or their partner, if applicable) for household fuel bills. Only one application per household will be considered.

And either …

 Be on a low income, meaning:  

for a single person (living alone with no dependent children): Net household income* of no more than £18,200/year (£1,516.67/month);
living with a partner (living with no dependent children): Net household income* of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month); 
for a single person (living alone with dependent children): Net household income* of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month);  
living with a partner (living with dependent children): Net household income* of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month).

* Net household income includes your monthly take-home pay from work (plus your partner’s if applicable), any income from child maintenance payments, any income from student finance loans or bursaries, pensions (excluding pension credit) and any income from people living with you (for instance, adult children or lodgers).

or … 

Be in receipt of means-tested benefits. These include:

universal credit;
housing benefit;
child and/or working tax credits;
pension credit;
means-tested jobseekers’ allowance;
means-tested employment support allowance;
income support.