Tag: scotland

Local government reform must put workers’ voices at the centre

Joint statement from UNISON Scotland’s convenor Mark Ferguson and local government committee chair Susanne Gens: 

We are aware of the Scottish government’s proposals for the future of local government  in Scotland. 

The proposals would represent a seismic shift from the current 32 councils to between six and ten regional authorities and 120 to 160 community authorities. This will have major implications for UNISON members working in local government and the communities they serve. 

What is striking about the proposals is what they do not say. There is no meaningful detail on the local government workforce or the role of trade unions, despite the central role our members play in delivering public services. 

There has been no consultation with UNISON on these proposals. A three-month period for reform on this scale is woefully insufficient. Reform must be done with workers, not to workers. 

The Scottish government cannot credibly promise stronger local democracy while simultaneously cutting around 20,000 public service workers and slashing millions from budgets. New regional and community authorities will require investment, skilled staff and the resources to make them work. Major reductions in the workforce will ultimately leave communities with less, not more. 

There is also a lack of detail on how these new structures would be funded. Real reform must be about strengthening public services, not just finding ways to spend less.  

There is equally little detail on social care. UNISON believes the Scottish government must learn the lessons from its failed attempt to set up a National Care Service. Low pay is the single biggest barrier to fixing the care crisis. Without urgent investment in wages, staffing shortages will deepen, leaving vulnerable people in hospital beds for much longer than necessary. We must be clear that care must be driven by need, not profit, and any reform must address these issues rather than just moving responsibilities between different structures.  

Public service workers understand how services work, where they could work better and what is needed to improve them. Their expertise is vital to reform.  

If the Scottish government wants stronger communities, better local services and a stronger democratic voice, it must invest in the people that make them possible. You cannot build better public services by cutting the people that deliver them. Jobs must be protected, and reform must not undermine the local democracy that councils thrive on. 

We are seeking meetings with decision-makers to ensure our members’ voices are heard and are central to any discussions about changes to local government. Meaningful reform requires meaningful engagement with the workforce and its trade unions.  

Local government reform must put workers’ voices at the centre – UNISON Scotland

Unison Stirling Branch LG Organisational Change Policy Dispute/Grievance Update

We advised members of concerns and the decision taken at a full committee meeting of Stirling Council held on Thursday 26th June 2025 to change and implement a new Organisational Change Policy despite the UNISON Stirling Branch having raised concerns in relation to the changes proposed, lack of information/detail, lack of robust/meaningful consultation and erosion of our members terms and conditions. We issued the employer with the grievance/dispute on the 21st July 2025.

Failure to Consult Letter Greivance/Dispute

We can now advise that we met with the employer on the 2nd September to discuss our Grievance dispute, however at that point there was no further movement in relation to our concerns. The UNISON Stirling Branch Executive took the decision on the 16th September to move to a consultative ballot of all our Stirling Council members on this matter. Since notifying the employer of this decision to move to an all members ballot the employer has reached out and has advised they wish to have further discussions. Whilst we are happy to engage on this matter in the hope of achieving a satisfactory resolution that we can put to our members the UNISON Stirling Branch Executive have made the decision to continue with the consultative ballot in the event that talks fail to address the concerns we have raised with the employer.

On that basis to allow preparation for the ballot we ask all members to immediately check that all their UNISON membership details are up to date particularly their e-mail address. You can do this by going to your MyUNISON account or by contacting UNISON direct on 0800 0857 857. The consultative ballot will be a digital ballot and your ballot will be sent directly to the e-mail address we hold for you.

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

UNISON Stirling Branch (AGM)

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS (AGM)
19th February 2025

Meeting 1
In Person Council Chambers, Viewforth, Wednesday
19th February 2025, 12pm – 2pm, Refreshments Provided

Meeting 2
Teams Video Link, Wednesday 19th February 2025, 6p.m-7.30p.m

Business begins meeting 1, Council Chambers, Viewforth 12:00noon sharp and meeting 2 online 6p.m sharp.

Please note this year we will be holding 2 meetings on this date: 1 in person and 1 online to increase and encourage wider participation (your attendance is required at only one of these meetings depending on your preference).

Please see our website www.stirlingunison.co.uk for further guidance on how to register for the video link AGM.

Free Prize Draw