Local Government

Local goverment serves the peopleLocal Government is UNISON Scotland’s biggest service group. Its remit covers a range of employees including those of all of Scotland’s councils, Direct Labour and Direct Service Organisations, Trusts, Joint Boards, voluntary and related organisations and private companies.

For information on our pay campaign, industrial action and ballot – got to our campaigns page

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON FACEBOOK
FacebookCatch up with the latest updates at Fighting for Scottish Council Workers

Latest updates

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 ... 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 ... Read More

More than nine in ten council staff struggling with cost of living, says UNISON

Cost of living pressures mean more than nine in ten local government workers in Scotland are struggling to make ends ... Read More

West Dunbartonshire school learning assistants vote for strike action in job grade dispute, says UNISON

School learning assistants who support pupils with profound needs in West Dunbartonshire have voted overwhelmingly to strike in a dispute ... 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 ... Read More

UNISON Scotland budget response: A budget that fails public services, says UNISON

UNISON's Scottish secretary Lilian Macer said: "Today’s Scottish budget does not go far enough to address the deepening crisis across ... Read More

West Dunbartonshire’s school learning assistants to be balloted for strike action in job grade dispute, says UNISON

School learning assistants who support pupils with profound needs in West Dunbartonshire are to take part in a strike ballot ... Read More

Briefing 168 – Population challenges for public services and the economy

This briefing looks at the implications of current and projected demographic change.  It summarises recent publications from the Improvement Service ... Read More

Briefing 167 – Scottish Government Public Sector Reform Summit

On October 14th 2025 the Scottish Government held what they billed as a "Public Sector Reform Operational Summit" . The ... Read More

Briefing 165 – Scottish Government Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan

The Scottish Government has published it's Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan. The aim of the document is to provide some detail ... Read More

More Local Government News

Latest local government briefings

Briefing 174 Public Service Reform Update

thumbnail of Final Briefing 174 Public Service Reform Update 2026
Public Service Reform (PSR) is the central mission of the newly elected SNP minority government, with the cabinet secretary in ...

Briefing 173 Council Budgets Crisis

thumbnail of Briefing 173 – Council Budgets Crisis (002)
The Accounts Commission has published a stark warning about the state of council finances in Scotland. It warned that overall ...

Briefing 171 Local Government Benchmarking Report 2024/25

thumbnail of Briefing 171 benchmarking overview report 202425
Every year the Improvement Service carry out research on how councils are performing against a range of measures, giving information ...

Briefing 168 – Population challenges for public services and the economy

thumbnail of Briefing Population challenges Nov 2025
This briefing looks at the implications of current and projected demographic change.  It summarises recent publications from the Improvement Service ...

More on briefings page

Latest responses and submissions

Future of Foster Care Response

thumbnail of FINAL UNISON Foster Care Consultation_Feb 2025
The Government is consulting on its plans for the Future of Foster Care. This is part of the implementation of ...

National Care Service Bill (Stage 2) Draft Amendments: Call for Views

thumbnail of FINAL UNISON NCS Bill Draft Amendments_Sept 2024
On 24 June the Scottish Government belatedly published its draft amendments to the National Care Service (Scotland) bill. This is ...

Housing (Scotland) Bill response

thumbnail of Final UNISON Housing Bill May 2024
The Housing (Scotland) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 26 March 2024.  The bill has six main parts which include ...

Delivering net zero for Scotland’s buildings: Heat in Buildings Bill

thumbnail of Heat in Buildings Bill Consultation March 24
This is UNISON Scotland's response to the Scottish Government consultation on its proposed Heat in Buildings Bill. We are members ...

More on responses page