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

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

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

More Local Government News

Latest local government briefings

Briefing 157 – Care Management: Fit for purpose?

thumbnail of Briefing 157 Care Management June 2025
Care Management is the process for assessing individuals’ needs for social care services. It is integral to the social care ...

Briefing 154 – Consultation on rent control exemptions

thumbnail of Briefing Rent Control Exemptions May 2025
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

thumbnail of e-brief LG Budgets May 2025
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

thumbnail of Bargaining briefing 153 LG Pay 2025
This bargaining briefing gives the facts about COSLA's pay offer of 17 February. COSLA’s 3% pay offer is a real ...

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Latest responses and submissions

National Care Service (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 Scrutiny: UNISON evidence

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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

thumbnail of UNISON response Pre Budget Scrutiny Finance Cttee FINAL Aug 22
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

thumbnail of Final UNISON New Deal for Tenants April 2022
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

thumbnail of FINAL SSSC Register March 2022
This is UNISON's response to the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) consultation on proposed changes to registration and qualifications. While ...

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