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"The commitments around the living wage also represents a significant step forward, albeit in a longer time frame than we would have wished for our members. "Clearly the 1% pay rise is paltry and leaves our members up to 16% worse off over the past five years. This has been especially hard for our low paid members many of whom are still dependent on benefits and some also on foodbanks, which is a disgrace in our wealthy society. "We now need to build for a much better pay rise for us all next year, particularly for our low paid members. That makes sense for us but also makes sense for the economy as a whole. We are the people who pay our taxes and who shop in our local communities. Paying us properly has a big knock on effect for local shops and businesses as well as for deficit reduction, which is what this UK Government says it wants." Pay update 14 October 2014
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UNISON Scotland 2014/15 PAY CLAIM 
Consultative Ballot on LG Pay Scotland - Members vote to accept
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Inez Teece |
Inez Teece, Branch Secretary and Vice Chair of the Scottish local Government Committee said, "This is an important time for our members, cuts to services are a reality in all local authorities, jobs continue to be shed at an alarming rate, terms and conditions are under threat and those members that are left are required to do more for the same or less.
"On top of this the Scottish Employers have imposed a paltry pay increase. This has not been negotiated it has simply been imposed!
"Pay remains a priority for this union now is the time to give that message to our employers and tell them that we will not be treated like this. We are told that the economy is back at 2008 levels. If that is true how come our pay has not kept pace?" asked Inez.
A group has been established at Scotland level, to develop the campaign and provide the resources and support for branches to engage with members. The Branch will now take the campaign out to our members to build for a YES vote. Further details will be announced on the website in the coming days.
Pay Update July 2014
Members vote for action ballot
The Consultative Ballot on Pay closed on 7th July with members voting by 65% to 35% in favour of moving to a formal industrial action ballot in support of an improved offer.
UNISON's Scottish Local Government Committee has agreed to now progress with the preparatory work for an industrial action ballot and to have discussions through a meeting of all Branch Secretaries as to the campaign and strategy required to maximise participation and win the ballot.
The Branch Secretaries' meeting will take place before the end of July once a venue can be confirmed. Further information will be available shortly.
Pay Update June 2014
Pay Meetings - Find out why you should vote in pay ballot running until 7th July
Not had your ballot paper? Contact the UNISON Resource Centre on 01224 620624
The Branch will be holding two Pay Meetings where you can come along and find out more about the pay campaign and consultation.
- 26th June 2014 12.30-2pm Inverurie Town Hall, Market Place, Inverurie
- 27th June 2014 12.30-2pm Council Chambers, Arbuthnot House, Peterhead
Why is UNISON balloting?
The Scottish Employers have rejected UNISON’s 2014 Pay Claim for £1 per hour and consolidation on of the living wage. It is their view that pay has been settled until April 2015.
This is because, after UNISON members accepted a 1% rise in 2013 in good faith, the employers imposed 1% for 2013 and 2014. The decision to move to a consultative ballot was taken at a meeting of all council branches. We want all our members to have a say on how we go forward to challenge the erosion of our pay over the past four years.
Click here for UNISON Scotland pay information and leaflets
Inez Teece, Branch secretary said, "Many of our members are low paid and a 1% pay rise, even with the living wage and the Aberdeenshire uplift, is still paltry when you think that we live in one of the most expensive parts of Scotland.
"With the pay freeze, we have taken a 13% pay cut in real terms."
Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair added, " We believe that our members are worth decent pay. That is important not just for us but for the local community, as public sector workers we spend up to 90p of every pound we earn back in our local shops and businesses. And we pay our taxes!
"Day after day our members go out to work for the people of Aberdeenshire. No wonder the council says that staff are their greatest resource.
"There is no doubt that we are valued by the people we provide the services for. Now the employers should show how much they value their workforce by giving us a decent pay rise."
Pay Update May 2014
Branch to consult on pay action
UNISON Scotland Local Government leaders have announced a consultative ballot of members in local government on pay.
The Branch will now ask our members whether to ballot for industrial action in support of an improved offer for this year, or whether the focus should now be on building a campaign of action in support of our 2015/16 pay claim.
The ballot will run from 9th June and close on 7th July. It will be a postal ballot to members home addresses and UNISON's Local Government Committee is urging members to support a full industrial action ballot.
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Inez Teece |
Inez Teece, Branch Secretary and Vice-Chair of the Scottish Local Government Committee said, "The Scottish Employers have rejected UNISON’s 2014 Pay Claim for £1 per hour and consolidation of the living wage. It is their view that pay has been settled until April 2015. This is because, after UNISON members accepted a 1% rise in 2013 in good faith, the employers imposed 1% for 2013 and 2014.
“The decision to move to a consultative ballot was taken at a meeting of all council branches. We want all our members to have a say on how we go forward to challenge the erosion of our pay over the past four years.
“Many of our members are low paid and a 1% pay rise, even with the living wage and the Aberdeenshire uplift, is still paltry when you think that we live in one of the most expensive parts of Scotland. With the pay freeze, we have taken a 13% pay cut in real terms.”
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Kate Ramsden |
Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair added, “We will be holding meetings of members towards the end of June, setting out why we believe that our members are worth decent pay, and why that is important not just for us but for the local community. As public sector workers we spend up to 90p of every pound we earn back in our local shops and businesses. And we pay our taxes!
“Day after day our members go out to work for the people of Aberdeenshire. No wonder that council says that staff are their greatest resource. There is no doubt that they are valued by the people they provide the services for. Now the employers should show how much they value their workforce by giving them a decent pay rise.”
Pay Update January 2014
UNISON to lodge pay
claim despite imposition
UNISON is to lodge a pay claim in 2014 despite CoSLA’s imposition of two years at 1%.
It will also mount a 2015 campaign on pay and the protection of locally delivered services.
Branches from across Scotland overwhelmingly backed the move at a meeting in Glasgow in early December 2013.
They reacted angrily to the employers stepping outside the agreed bargaining structure.
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Dougie Black |
Dougie Black, UNISON’s regional organiser, said: “COSLA’s claims that UNISON is dragging its heels is utter nonsense.
“Our members were balloted and had accepted COSLA’s one year pay offer. It’s completely unacceptable for COSLA to renege on the deal and it’s a real kick in the teeth for Scotland’s council staff who work hard to deliver Scotland’s council services.
“Imposing a deal is no way to conduct bargaining and our members deserve more than these underhand tactics.
“COSLA needs to get back around the negotiating table and conduct their business in a fair, open and transparent manner and show our members the respect they deserve.”
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Inez Teece |
Branch Secretary and Vice Chair of the Scottish Local Government Committee, Inez Teece, explained further issues facing the union: “In an unprecedented move, the Unite union accepted the two-year 1% outwith the agreed bargaining structures, committing to 1% next year irrespective of inflation or any change in financial circumstances.
“As a result, to get fair pay for local government workers, critical work will have to be done not only with the employers but with the other local government trade unions.”
Click here to see updates from the 2013 Pay Claim