Mair nor 70,000 local government warkers in Scotland face a decision ower potential industrial action. UNISON Scotland has appened a digital ballot speirin cooncil staff gin they want tae begin a formal ballot process. It is the first stap tae a strike that cuid lead tae mass walkoots afore simmer.

Cooncil warkers are gien little chyce. They maun decide whither tae back a muive that cuid push Cosla, the local government employer body, an the Scottish government tae offer a strangar proposal. Cosla has offered a 3% pey rise for 2025-26. This offer comes at a time whan risin inflation, steep energy costs an heicher cooncil taxes hae squeezed wages. UNISON claims that in real terms, the pey rise amoonts tae a wage cut. The union further pynts oot that the proposal dis little tae rax a minimum rate o £15 per oor for thae in local government.

UNISON Scotland local government committee chair Colette Hunter expressed the union’s resolve. “We’re determined tae avoid strike action, but Cosla an the Scottish government maun mak a significantly improved offer, an quickly. Anither real terms pey cut is unacceptable. Specially as some cooncils are set tae vote on dooble figure pey rises for cooncillors. We need a revised offer that demonstrates invaluable contributions o cooncil staff tae. We maun address systemic law pey that has eroded livin staundarts for far tae lang. We are ready tae engage in constructive discussions, but it’s anely the prospect o industrial action that prompts action fae COSLA an the Scottish government.”

The consultative ballot appened on Monday, 10 Mairch, an will rin until Thursday, 27 Mairch. UNISON represents mair nor 80,000 cooncil staff ower Scotland an ower 150,000 memmers in various public sectors includin education, the NHS, social care, polis, watter an energy. The union is kent as Scotland’s mucklest public service trade body.

The comin weeks haud heich stakes for cooncil staff an the public service landscape in Scotland. The warkers’ decision micht suin pave the wey for further talks or merk the stairt o a widespreid walkoot.