Commenting on Audit Scotland’s Local Government Budgets 2025/6 report and latest inflation figures, UNISON Scotland’s regional manager Kay Sillars said today (Thursday):
“Council workers in Scotland have been hit with a double whammy. After hearing inflation has risen again to 3.5%, they learn the local government budget has a £647m shortfall.
“UNISON is currently balloting council staff for strike over their 3% pay offer, so these latest price-rise figures show this clearly amounts to another pay cut.
“Councils are already delaying filling job vacancies to save money, while staff are leaving for better paid work elsewhere, which worsens the workloads for the remaining workforce.
“Restoring the value of pay is essential to retaining and recruiting the skilled workers needed to deliver vital services.
“Councils must have fair funding from the Scottish government so they can pay staff properly and deliver what’s needed to their local communities.”