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

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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

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Latest local government briefings

Briefing 167 – Scottish Government Public Sector Reform Summit

thumbnail of Public Service reform Summit Briefing oct 25 final
On October 14th 2025 the Scottish Government held what they billed as a "Public Sector Reform Operational Summit" . The ...

Briefing 165 – Scottish Government Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan

thumbnail of Briefing 165 – Scotgov Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan 2025 web version
The Scottish Government has published it's Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan. The aim of the document is to provide some detail ...

Briefing 164 – Scottish Government Medium-Term Financial Strategy

thumbnail of Briefing 164 Scotgov 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 ...

Briefing 163 – Scottish Government Public Service Reform Strategy

thumbnail of Briefing 163 – Scotgov Public Service Reform Strategy
The Scottish Government have published their Public Service Reform Strategy. It outlines their intention to reduce the size of the ...

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Latest responses and submissions

Democracy Matters: Local governance Phase 2 consultation

thumbnail of FINAL Local Governance response Feb 2024
This is UNISON's response to the Scottish Government and COSLA  ‘Democracy Matters: Local governance Phase 2 consultation’. The consultation is ...

Additional Support for Learning (ASL)

thumbnail of ASL Consultation Response FINAL Dec 23
This is our response to the Education, Children and Young People Committee’s call for views on Additional Support for Learning ...

Consultation on a ‘Fairer Council Tax’

thumbnail of Fairer Council Tax Consultation Response Sept 23
This is the UNISON Scotland response to the Scottish Government and COSLA Consultation on a Fairer Council Tax. The proposals ...

Circular Economy Bill – response to Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

thumbnail of UNISON Response Circular Economy NetZET Cttee Aug23
This is UNISON’s submission to the Scottish Parliament Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee’s call for views as part of ...

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