Tens of thousands of council staff in Scotland will receive formal ballot papers from today (Thursday) as they choose whether to vote for strike action over pay, says UNISON.
The union is balloting all staff it represents in local government in Scotland, the largest vote of its kind for many years.
More than 80,000 workers across all 32 councils will have the opportunity to take part from May 1 until June 12.
The move follows a recent consultation in which 92% backed strike action.
Local government employer body Cosla has offered all council workers in Scotland a 3% increase for 2025-26.
UNISON Scotland co-lead for local government David O’Connor said: “Dedicated council staff have seen the value of their pay fall for more than a decade, as wages failed to keep pace with the cost of living.
“These workers deliver high-quality, vital services to communities, despite increasing pressures, dwindling resources and significant staffing shortages.
“Cosla’s offer only adds to the real financial hardship faced by employees, especially with rent, council tax and energy bills continuing to soar.
“Strike action is always a last resort, but local government workers have been underpaid and undervalued for far too long. Cosla and the Scottish government need to step up and offer a decent wage increase that reflects the value if these workers.”
Chair of UNISON Scotland’s local government committee Susanne Gens said: “Staff have indicated overwhelmingly that they’ve reached their limit. They can’t afford to shoulder the burden of real-terms pay cuts.
“Local government workers are the glue that holds communities together and provide essential services on which everyone relies.
The Scottish Government and Cosla must recognise their worth and respond with a fair pay offer that values these essential workers.”
Notes to editors:
– The strike ballot opens on Thursday 1 May and closes on Thursday 12 June.
– UNISON Scotland’s pay claim for 2025 was a 6.5% increase for all local government workers.
– UNISON represents workers across all pay grades who provide a range of services including: education, social care, transport, environmental health, housing, planning, economic development and leisure services. It is Scotland’s largest local government union, representing over 80,000 workers across all 32 councils.