Scotland’s largest local government union UNISON has announced today (Friday) that council workers have voted in their tens of thousands to back industrial action in a dispute over pay.
The union says more than 92% of those who took part in a consultation are in favour of striking.
Local government employer body Cosla has offered all council workers in Scotland a 3% increase for 2025-26.
UNISON Scotland’s local government committee will now meet to discuss its next steps in balloting its members formally over strike action.
Chair of UNISON Scotland’s local government committee Colette Hunter said: “The last thing anyone wants to do is take strike action. But local government workers deserve a fair increase to stop their pay lagging behind inflation and other sectors of the economy.
“This result should be a wake-up call for Cosla. It needs to reward council workers fairly for the essential services they provide and start to reverse years of pay cuts.
“Workers have seen the value of their wages fall over the past ten years, while often being asked to take on even more work to cover for vacant posts in their teams.
“Councils provide vital services to their communities by caring for the most vulnerable, educating children, collecting waste and recycling, and keeping people safe. Council workers deserve better.”
UNISON Scotland local government lead David O’Connor said: “Inflation, energy and council tax rises mean this offer is effectively a wage cut. Strike action is always a last resort, but local government workers deserve to be paid fairly for the vital work they do.
“Cosla and the Scottish government must get around the table with a fair pay offer that recognises the essential contribution council workers make in the community.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the largest union in local government in Scotland representing more than 80,000 council employees.
-The consultative ballot closed at 5pm yesterday (Thursday 27 March), with 92.4% of those who took part voting in favour of taking strike action.
– UNISON Scotland’s members provide public services in education, local government, the NHS, social care, police services, water and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.