Latest UNISON Scotland Briefings from the Bargaining and Campaigns Team. UNISON Scotland Briefings include Bargaining and Policy Briefings for branches on a wide range of policy and employment issues, e-briefings and Legal Updates and briefings for MSPs and MPs and others to represent UNISON policy where decisions are being made.
Public sector reform in social care and local government
The public service reform (PSR) strategy has a cuts agenda. Driven by cost cutting, a huge transformation in how local services are governed and delivered is planned. What this means ... Read More
Bargaining update July 2026
This summer has seen record breaking heat and drought in the UK, including unprecedented wildfires in Scotland. The issue of extreme heat in the workplace, and worker protections from it, ... Read More
Briefing 176 Expansion of funded early learning and childcare to 1140 hours: 2018-2025 national outcomes evaluation
UNISON members work in a variety of roles to deliver early learning and childcare (ELC) to Scotland’s youngest children. The Scottish Government has published ‘Expansion of funded early learning and ... Read More
Briefing 175 Public service workers and the ongoing cost of living crisis
A survey of UNISON Scotland members shows that the overwhelming majority are struggling to get by financially. Years of high inflation and stagnant wages have left public service workers finding ... Read More
Briefing 174 Public Service Reform Update
Public Service Reform (PSR) is the central mission of the newly elected SNP minority government, with the cabinet secretary in charge, Ivan McKee, describing it as “the defining task of ... Read More
Briefing 173 Council Budgets Crisis
The Accounts Commission has published a stark warning about the state of council finances in Scotland. It warned that overall Scottish councils face a budget gap of around £529 million ... Read More
UNISON’s Fair Visa Campaign
UNISON is the UK's largest union with 1.3 million members working in public services. UNISON’s Fair Visa campaign highlights the crucial role migrant workers play in health and social care ... Read More
Briefing 172 The cost of outsourcing: STUC research
Outsourcing, contracting out the delivery of public services from the public sector, is often presented as the cheapest option for public finances. This is not the case. Research from the ... Read More
Briefing 171 Local Government Benchmarking Report 2024/25
Every year the Improvement Service carry out research on how councils are performing against a range of measures, giving information about the last year and allowing comparisons over time. This ... Read More
Briefing 170: Additional Support for Learning: A Review of System Delivery for Learners
This briefing summarises the recent review of additional support for learning provision in Scotland, ‘Additional Support for Learning: A Review of System Delivery for Learners’. UNISON members in pupil support ... Read More
