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.
For information on our pay campaign, industrial action and ballot – got to our campaigns page
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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 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
Care Futures 4 – Effective Voice
The fourth edition of UNISON Scotland's Care Futures looks at what Effective Voice could mean for workers in social care ...
UNISON Scotland Week 320 – Net zero debate, Dundee Uni pensions strike & more
UNISON Scotland Week 320 - Net zero debate, Dundee Uni pensions strike & more. Read full newsletter here ...
Scottish Government – Programme for Government 2021-22
The Programme for Government for 2021-22 has been announced. This sets out the Scottish Government's legislative programme and other administrative ...
UNISON Week 318 – UNISON ballots council workers on strike action, National Care Service Consultation and more.
UNISON Week 318 - UNISON ballots council workers on strike action, National Care Service Consultation and more. Read full newsletter ...
More on briefings page
Latest responses and submissions
Online response to SSSC fitness to practice proposed changes
1. The "fitness to practise" criteria is very vague and it is not clear to us what objective standards the ...
Integration of Care in Social Care in Social Care in Scotland
UNISON Scotland members have been involved in various proposals for the integration of health and care services since the late1990s ...
Consultation on the Children and Young People Bill
UNISON Scotland has supported the principles of Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) since its inception and we believe ...
Looked after children response
UNISON is Scotland’s largest trade union representing approximately 160,000 members working in the public sector. UNISON Scotland represents over 30,000 ...
More on responses page