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

Cooncil warkers are gien little chyce. They maun decide fither tae back a move aat cwid push Cosla, e local government employer body, an e Scottish government tae offer a stranger proposal. Cosla his offered a 3% pey rise for 2025-26. Iss offer comes at a time fan risin inflation, steep energy costs an heicher cooncil taxes hae squeezed wages. UNISON claims aat in real terms, e pey rise amoonts tae a wage cut. E union furth sets oot aat e 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 e union’s resolve. “We’re determined tae avoid strike action, but Cosla an e 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 cooncillers. We need a revised offer aat demonstrates invaluable contributions o cooncil staff tae. We maun address systemic laa pey aat his eroded livin staundarts for far ower lang. We are ready tae engage in constructive discussions, but it’s ainly the prospect o industrial action aat prompts action fae COSLA an e Scottish government.” E 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, e NHS, social care, polis, waater an energy. E union is kent as Scotland’s mucklest public service trade body.

E cumin wikks haad heich stakes for cooncil staff an e public service landscape in Scotland. E warkers’ decision micht suin pave the wey for further talks or merk e stairt o a widespreid walkoot.