Scotland Local Government Staff Accept Two-Year Pay Deal

Members of the trade union Unison, representing local government workers in Scotland, have overwhelmingly accepted a two-year pay deal offered by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), with 83% voting in favor. The pay deal includes a 4% increase for 2025-26 and a 3.5% increase for 2026-27, exceeding current and forecasted inflation rates, providing financial security to council staff. Unison leaders emphasized the deal as a significant step in reversing years of pay cuts and highlighted the importance of collective action. Despite the acceptance, union officials caution against complacency, noting ongoing challenges from over a decade of local government cuts. Other unions, such as Unite and GMB, are still consulting members on whether to accept the offer, while Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison has urged these unions to follow Unison’s lead to ensure all workers receive the pay increase without delay. COSLA expressed satisfaction with the acceptance and awaits decisions from the other unions to progress with implementing the pay rises.