Local 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.
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Catch up with the latest updates at Fighting for Scottish Council Workers
Catch up with the latest updates at Fighting for Scottish Council WorkersLatest updates
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
Briefing 164 – Scottish Government Medium-Term Financial Strategy
The Scottish Government have published their Medium-Term Financial Strategy. It outlines how they intend to approach public spending over the ... Read More
Briefing 163 – Scottish Government Public Service Reform Strategy
The Scottish Government have published their Public Service Reform Strategy. It outlines their intention to reduce the size of the ... Read More
Occupational therapists play a critical role in local social work teams, says UNISON
UNISON Scotland and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) welcome that occupational therapists working in social work will be ... Read More
Briefing 160 – Children (Care, Care Experience & Services Planning) Bill: Call for Views
The Government has decided that some reforms recommended by the Independent Care Review for children & young people require legislation ... Read More
Red Book, local government terms and conditions 2025
This is the latest (April 2025) edition of the Single Status Agreement (commonly referred to as the ‘Red Book’). It ... Read More
Council staff vote to accept two-year pay offer
Local government staff in Scotland have voted to accept Cosla’s two-year pay offer, says UNISON today (Monday). Members of Scotland’s ... Read More
Briefing 158 – Care Reform (Scotland) Bill passes
On 10 June, the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill was passed. This briefing gives an overview of its provisions. The Act ... Read More
More Local Government News
Latest local government briefings
National Care Service Bill
The National Care Service Bill was published on 21 June. This briefing focuses on the implications and consequences of the ...
SSSC A Register for the Future: Consultation Outcome
Early in 2022 the SSSC consulted on some proposed changes to registration and qualifications. The proposals affect UNISON members who ...
Briefing 119 – Inflation and inequality
This briefing covers inflation, the differences between ways to measure it, and why it is vital we speak up on ...
UNISON Week 328 – Local Govt pay claim, Ovo threats, HE Ballot & more
UNISON Week 328 - Local Govt pay claim, Ovo threats, HE Ballot & more. Read full newsletter here ...
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Latest responses and submissions
Housing: consultation on a new tenancy for the private rented sector
Private sector rent levels have been increasing at some of the highest rates in the UK and are now double ...
TTIP – Implications forScotland
As a public sector trade union, UNISON is opposed to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership as we believe it ...
Community Energy Policy Statement response
Community energy provides an opportunity to diversify Scotland's energy ownership from the dominance of big energy companies. The draft Community ...
Scottish Government Draft Budget 2015-16 response
In this brief response we provide some key background context and concentrate on spending relating to the three National Performance ...
More on responses page