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 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
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Latest local government briefings
Briefing 154 – Consultation on rent control exemptions
The Housing (Scotland) Bill will introduce a system of long-term rent controls. This briefing gives an overview of the Government ...
e brief Local Government Budgets 2025/26
Audit Scotland has published its assessment of local authority budgets for 2025/26. This e brief presents the headlines. The Audit ...
Briefing 153 – COSLA’s pay offer: the facts
This bargaining briefing gives the facts about COSLA's pay offer of 17 February. COSLA’s 3% pay offer is a real ...
Briefing 152 – National Social Work Agency Update: March 2025
Plans are going ahead to create a National Social Work Agency (NSWA) as part of the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill, ...
More on briefings page
Latest responses and submissions
National Care Service (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 Scrutiny: UNISON evidence
UNISON has submitted its Evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s call for views on The National Care Service (Scotland) Bill. UNISON ...
Scotland’s public finances, cost of living impact & public service reform
This is UNISON Scotland's response to the Scottish Parliament Finance and Public Administration Committee's Call for Views as part of ...
A New Deal for Tenants
This is UNISON's response to the proposed reform of the private rented sector. High private rents and house prices are ...
SSSC: A Register for the Future
This is UNISON's response to the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) consultation on proposed changes to registration and qualifications. While ...
More on responses page