This is the latest (April 2025) edition of the Single Status Agreement (commonly referred to as the ‘Red Book’). It came into force in April 1999 and amended in 2025.
It contains the terms and conditions nationally negotiated through the Scottish Joint Council (SJC) which comprises representatives of COSLA and the local government trade unions.
The agreement provides a unified framework by merging the previous negotiating arrangements for Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical (APT&C) staff and Manual Workers. It is structured into four parts:
Part 1 – Principles (Summary)
The Scottish Joint Council (SJC) represents Scottish councils and their employees (excluding those covered by other national bodies). It supports local democratic control and aims to agree on national pay and conditions for local use. The SJC Constitution is attached to this section.
The SJC promotes:
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- High-quality services through a trained, motivated workforce with job security and development opportunities.
- Equality and diversity in employment and service delivery, with a focus on eliminating discrimination.
- Flexibility in service delivery that balances community and workforce needs.
- Stable industrial relations through negotiation and consultation with recognised trade unions.
The SJC encourages union membership and cooperation between councils, employees, and unions to support effective service delivery. Councils should provide facilities to support union organisation and representation.
Part 2 – Key Scottish Provisions
This section outlines core terms and conditions that must be applied by all councils to all employees covered by the SJC. These are the (minimum) standards that apply uniformly across Scotland.
Part 3 – Other Scottish Provisions
This section includes terms and conditions that may be modified through local negotiation. The party proposing a change must submit a written statement outlining the proposed changes and the reasons for them. Both parties must then seek to reach agreement, typically within three months.
If agreement cannot be reached, either party may refer the matter to the Joint Secretaries (or another mutually agreed person) for conciliation.
If conciliation is unsuccessful, the Joint Secretaries may recommend further procedures for resolving the dispute, including external conciliation, mediation, or binding arbitration via ACAS. These procedures should, where possible, be completed within a further three months.
Part 4 – Joint Advice
This section provides agreed guidance on good practice across a range of employment-related issues.
With the agreement recently updated, now is an opportune time for branches and activists to review its key elements. This is a very important agreement