Campaigns


Local government pay 2022

Local government trade unions have today (Tuesday, 18 January) submitted a joint pay claim to COSLA calling for a ‘fair and decent’ pay increase to make up for decades of cuts and to recognise the vital role these workers have played during the pandemic.

The three trade unions – UNISON, Unite and GMB – submitted the pay claim calling for:

• A £3,000 flat rate increase to all spinal column points (based on a 35 hr working week).
• A minimum hourly rate of £12 per hour.
• All allowances to be automatically uprated in line with October inflation rates.
• Payment of all professional fees incurred by members in the course of their employment.
• A no-detriment reduction in the working week to 35 hours.
• Agreement of home/hybrid working guidance.
• A Job evaluation review of all roles that have changed during the pandemic.
• No less than parity with other local government bargaining groups.
• Fair funding for local government to protect jobs and services.

Johanna Baxter, UNISON Scotland’s head of local government, said: “Youth workers, care workers, refuse collectors, social workers, teaching assistants, community workers, street cleaners and so many more have gone above and beyond during the pandemic keeping schools open, supporting our NHS, ensuring communities are safe and providing essential services often at risk to their own health.

“After years of declining pay and cuts to local government budgets it is time for COSLA and the Scottish Government to get round the table to ensure sufficient funding is available to give our dedicated local government workers the fair and decent pay rise they deserve.

“With 55% of local government workers earning below £25k per annum, low pay remains a significant issue and this year’s settlement must not only protect workers from steep increases to everyday costs, like energy and gas, but also prevent pay from falling back further and should start to reverse the many years of real-terms cuts to wages.

“Industrial action was only narrowly averted in the last pay round.  This years negotiations need to progress at pace to ensure we don’t end up in the same position again this year. ”

Further information:

1. This pay claim is for the period 1 April 2022 to March 2023.

2. You can view the full pay claim here: https://unison-scotland.org/wp-content/uploads/SJC-Pay-Claim-2022.pdf


 

Year of the Disabled Worker 2022

 

UNISON has dedicated 2022 to a year-long national campaigning and organising strategy to support and celebrate disabled workers. Scotland has a particular interest in the campaign as the idea was developed by one of our Scottish branches.

This campaign is for all workers, and not just disabled workers. YOU have a part to play to make sure that your disabled colleagues who have the same ability and the same work and career progression aspirations as you, also have equity of opportunity throughout their working lives. Each of us is only ever a second away from an injury or illness that can leave us with a life-changing condition facing avoidable workplace challenges and barriers caused by attitudes, assumptions, and workplace structures and policies.

Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP who launched UNISON's 2022 year of disabled workers
Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP

MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy formally launched UNISON Year of Disabled Workers at December’s Scottish Council meeting to kickstart us, highlighting some of the main employment issues faced: supporting transition from education to work for young people, addressing the persisting pay and disability gaps in our workplaces, and the proper funding of social care to enable disabled people to fully participate in the labour market.

Our region’s Scottish Disabled Member’s Committee is running campaign activities through 2022 to support our members, as our contribution to the national campaign effort.

Some of the main pieces of work that will be delivered include:

  1. Development and roll out of disability training modules.
  2. Webinar input on Reasonable Adjustments available to branches, on request.
  3. Series of webinars covering a range of topics.
  4. Production of guidance on accessibility at virtual meetings for hearing impaired/deaf members.
  5. Member survey of attitudes to disability and barriers.
  6. Publication of our regular newsletter.

Our Campaigns page will keep you updated on what we’re doing and also link you to work happening nationally and across Scottish branches. We’re keen branches demonstrate they’re actively supporting and promoting disability issues in your workplace. Ask your branch what it’s doing and get involved!

This campaigns page will also update you to guidance, events, or promotional materials that you can use. You can also visit our Disabled members news page

You can also follow us on Facebook and can contact us through the private messaging facility if you’re looking for any information, help or advice.