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
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON FACEBOOK
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
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
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
More Local Government News
Latest local government briefings
e-brief – Insourcing of Adult Residential and Home Care
This briefing provides recent examples of where, how and why adult social care services have been returned in-house ('insourced') to ...
e-brief – Overview of Adult Social Care in Scotland
This briefing summarises the most recent national data about adult residential care and home care in Scotland. It looks at ...
Briefing 151 – Accounts Commission report: Additional Support for Learning
This briefing summarises the latest Accounts Commission report on Additional Support for Learning. UNISON members in pupil support roles play ...
Briefing 150 – NCS Bill Update: National Care Service abandoned
The Government has finally abandoned its plans to create a National Care Service (NCS). This was confirmed to Parliament on ...
More on briefings page
Latest responses and submissions
National Public Energy Agency
UNISON supports the creation of a new public agency to direct the roll-out of heating decarbonisation and energy efficiency. Strategic ...
Implementing Part 3 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019: Bus Services
UNISON believes we deserve a world class bus system. But we will only get this by rejecting deregulation and privatisation ...
Scotland’s economic performance: The contribution of place based economic development zones
UNISON opposes the idea of freeports. The UK Government has made clear that freeports will be private sector driven initiatives, ...
Fair Rents (Scotland) Bill
UNISON fully supports this bill to regulate rents in the private rented sector (PRS). We represent some of the lowest ...
More on responses page