
Unison members accept two-year council pay deal
Unison Scotland's local government committee chairwoman Suzanne Gens said: 'This pay deal is a crucial step in turning round cuts to council staff pay.
'It gives local government workers some financial security now they know their pay will be higher than inflation over the next couple of years.
'This has only been achieved because of the determination of council workers to demand better.'
The union's co-lead for local government David O'Connor said there was 'no room for complacency', despite the offer being accepted.
'Local government has suffered over a decade of cuts,' he added.
'This pay deal shows what can be done when people stand together. Our campaign to protect council services continues.'
Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison welcomed the news, urging other unions to also accept the offer.
'I am delighted that Unison members have voted to accept this improved pay offer, which will see valued local government workers receive pay increases of 4% in 2025-26 and 3.5% in 2026-27,' she said.
'Although the Scottish Government has no formal role in local government pay negotiations, we recognise the importance of an agreement being reached by Cosla – as the employer – and trade unions.
'I would urge members of Unite and GMB to join Unison members in recognising the clear benefit of this offer so that all workers can get the pay they deserve without delay.'

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Edinburgh Reporter
39 minutes ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Millions raised from the sale of council-owned property
The City of Edinburgh Council has raised £48.8 million from the sale of a range of properties, according to an investigation conducted by independent news cooperative, The Ferret. Although city prices are higher than elsewhere, by comparison The City of Glasgow Council sold only £20 million of their properties in the same period. In total, Scottish local authorities sold off 1,851 properties in recent years and between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2024 the total value of council owned property sold off was £243 million. Edinburgh properties Some of the larger numbers in the Edinburgh figures represent land sold for residential developments such as the land at Meadowbank which will be developed for housing and which has a price tag on it of £9.9 million. This and the other site at Fountainbridge which is said to have raised £9.6 million make up a large proportion of the property sold off and are essentially 'balance sheet' transactions transferring the property into the housing revenue account. Finance and Resources Convener Cllr Mandy Watt explained: 'Despite the financial challenges Edinburgh Council has faced over many years, the sale of council owned properties has mainly generated funds to invest in better schools, homes and workplaces. There have also been disposals as part of the community asset transfer programme, which allows local groups to bid for council land and buildings for community use. 'It's common practice for us to transfer land from our general fund to our housing revenue account. All land and buildings owned by the council are evaluated for potential social and affordable housing use before consideration is given to selling them. Sometimes we work with local community groups to develop a place plan, with a mix of housing and commercial buildings, so that areas have local jobs and services in addition to much needed new housing. This is what we are doing at Meadowbank and at Fountainbridge.' Edinburgh has sold off five schools – although this is usually where they have committed to building a new school in the same catchment area. STUC The Scottish Trades Union Congress commented on the sales saying that the scale was 'alarming as it is unsurprising'. Deputy general secretary Dave Moxham said that local authorities are 'swinging the axe' at services which provide vital support for everyone in our towns and cities'. This comment reflects the outcry when Edinburgh council agreed to 'sell off' – (actually this was achieved by means of a long lease) – the property at Infirmary Street to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. Previously several third sector groups used the building which the Society are now renovating with the aid of around £7 million of UK Government funding to create a Fringe hub. In emotional deputations to the council the third sector groups explained why this central location was crucial to their work, but this did not prevent the transfer of the property off the council's books. Work has begun at the former South Bridge Resource Centre to convert it into the new Fringe Hub COSLA, which represents Scotland's local authorities, said that while councils 'work hard to continue running high-quality services', they face significant budgetary challenges. 'This means that in some cases they have had to make difficult decisions about which properties and services they can continue to run,' said a spokesperson. 'COSLA will continue to advocate for a fair budget settlement for Scottish local government that recognises the importance of local decision making in getting the best outcomes for our communities.' Meanwhile the Scottish Government has repeatedly said that it has given Scottish councils a record payout this year of £15.1 billion. The government claims 'this is a real terms increase of 5.5%'. Meanwhile local authorities have to pay wage rises, additional employer National Insurance contributions, all amid higher demands for their services – including health and social care where there is a shortfall of an estimated £50 million. The list of properties sold in the capital includes these: Loading… Edinburgh City Chambers. © 2023 Martin McAdam Like this: Like Related


The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
John Swinney's chat about independence is getting embarrassing now
It's all becoming a wee bit sad lately. John Swinney starts talking about independence and nobody cares. Independence is supposed to be the SNP's flagship policy, the biggest topic of debate in Scotland – if you believe the nationalist faithful, of course. But when the First Minister opens his mouth on the constitution, most voters tune out. Swinney is the inversion of The Great Gatsby. He keeps throwing independence parties but nobody turns up. He's alone in the ballroom waiting for guests who will never arrive. Swinney has just unveiled his 'new plan for independence'. In truth, it's a nothing-burger, a big fat load of zilch. There's basically no difference – nothing new – to what he said about independence a month ago at the Scotland 2050 summit. That too was the dampest of damp squibs. A squib so damp you'd shudder if you shook its hand. In fact, Swinney isn't just repeating himself; he's repeating himself saying nothing. There's an existential horror to that: Swinney must wake up and feel like crying at the thought of having to spew out the same empty rhetoric over and over again. Read more from Neil Mackay: Let's check this plan out. It has 'three points', apparently. First, there will be a 'campaign designed to build the highest levels of support possible for independence'. Isn't that the SNP's raison d'être? Isn't that what they're supposed to be doing every day? What have they been doing until now? Campaigning to build the lowest levels of independence support? Although, to be fair, that is the opinion of some of the more daring naysayers in the Yes movement. Second, the [[SNP]] will build 'public pressure around Scotland's fundamental national rights' and 'turn the heat up on Westminster' when it comes to Scotland's 'right to choose'. Not to be too pedantic about this word salad, but once again: isn't this what the party is supposed to have been doing, since the last time it was supposed to have been doing it? There's an absurd circularity here that almost demands mockery. Third, Swinney wants to 'persuade independence supporters that the way to deliver independence is only with an emphatic SNP win in 2026'. You know what I'm going to say, right? Did he imagine that we actually thought he wanted to persuade independence supporters to vote Reform? It's beyond zero. This takes the notion of the void, of the vacuum, and somehow manages to empty out even more meaning or sense. Independence supporters were, as far as I could see, united in their frustration at this cypher of an announcement. The problem for Swinney is that the Yes movement has had these games played on it before. For years, Nicola Sturgeon seemed to announce that 'indy was coming' once a month. For a while, it worked. It kept the base fed and it provided column inches and debate. Eventually, though, everyone – even the most deluded McGlashan who would gleefully commit seppuku with their Claymore for 'Scottish freedom' – knew they were being conned. It wasn't so much that the curtain was ripped away, like in The Wizard of Oz, and we all suddenly saw the trickster at work. Rather, Sturgeon droned on so much that the curtain simply withered away over time. For Swinney to continue these tricks is lamentable. His indy chat is just embarrassing. He must know it won't work. Yet, the tragedy for Swinney is that he's trapped in this farce. He must go through this rigmarole every few months lest he be seen by his fractious base as some unionist quisling. The truth is nobody in the SNP has the slightest clue about how to achieve either another referendum or what independence means in any substantive form. They all passionately support independence – that bit isn't a con. But they've run out of ideas on the logistics. They're caught between the self-interested need to stay in power, which means they can't put independence front and centre on a daily basis for fear of deterring moderate voters; and the self-interested need to placate the base – for without the base, they're finished. What one can say in fairness about Swinney and the current iteration of the SNP is that they've steadied the ship. They've at least made the theory of good governance their priority, even if that may be somewhat lacking in practice. In this era, though, an insurgent political movement like Scottish independence needs helmed by someone with enough passion to fill Hampden. The Yes movement requires an authentically charismatic – even populist – leader. Swinney is an authentically decent chap, but even his fans would admit he can be managerial and bloodless. The world may be better off without charisma-politics, but sadly that's what the times demand. If the years could be rewound, the best strategy would be to hive the Yes movement off from the SNP and have it led by some non-political figurehead with bags of personality and the gift of the gab. The SNP could then get on with governing as best they can in order to show what could be achieved under independence, while the celebrity face of the movement charmed the pants off the nation. That ain't gonna happen, though. The SNP is in charge, and Swinney is the dude in the chair. So prepare for regular – perhaps monthly – cries of 'indy is coming'. Just don't for a moment imagine that any of this empty rhetoric takes independence forward one inch. Neil Mackay is The Herald's Writer-at-Large. He's a multi-award-winning investigative journalist, author of both fiction and non-fiction, and a filmmaker and broadcaster. He specialises in intelligence, security, crime, social affairs, cultural commentary, and foreign and domestic politics.


Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Kneecap's Glasgow Hydro gig sells out as rap trio headline their biggest Scottish show yet
In a jibe to First Minister John Swinney, the band said "A very special thank you to our Head of PR in Scotland Mr John Swinney... best in the business". Kneecap is set to make a return to Glasgow this winter as part of their "biggest run of shows ever" with tickets selling out shortly after going on sale. The Belfast based rap trio - Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí - will perform 14 shows across Scotland, England and Wales later this year. The tour includes a headline performances at Glasgow's OVO Hydro on November 30, 2025, marking the groups biggest show in Glasgow to date. Originally slated to play 11 shows, the group extended the tour by adding three additional dates in Leeds, Sheffield, and Manchester after pre-sale tickets sold out almost immediately due to overwhelming demand. And now it appears the gig has sold out. Taking to Instagram, Kneecap's official account wrote: "Glasgow SOLD OUT in a few hours. 13,000 Scottish F****** comrades... let's go!" In a jibe to First Minister John Swinney, they added: "A very special thank you to our Head of PR in Scotland Mr John Swinney... best in the business". Swinney played down his beef with Kneecap after he was called out by the Irish rappers at a gig in Glasgow earlier this month. The SNP leader previously warned some of the group's political sloganeering was "beyond the pale". The group hit back during their O2 Academy show on July 8, with Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara asking the crowd: " What's your First Minister's name?" "They stopped us playing TRNSMT but they can't stop us playing Glasgow." Taking to Instagram to initially announce the tour, Kneecap's official account wrote: "Here we go. We're back in November across Scotland, England and Wales to play our biggest run of shows ever. "The Prime Minister himself cant stop could stop sending bombs to Israel but that's another story..." Alongside their tour poster - which shows the trio in a bright green car emblazoned with the phrase "Irish Independence Traders" - the band also made a nod to their political stance. The car's number plate reads "26+6=1," a well-known slogan advocating for a united Ireland, referring to the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland and the 6 counties of Northern Ireland coming together as one. Their winter tour follows controversy earlier this year when Kneecap were originally headlining the King Tut's stage at TRNSMT 2025 but were dropped from the line-up in May after Police Scotland raised public safety concerns. At the time, a Police Scotland spokesperson stated: "Any decision on the line-up at TRNSMT is for the organisers, and there was no prior consultation with Police Scotland before acts were booked. "Officers have highlighted that the potential reaction of such a large audience to this band would require a significant policing operation in order to support the delivery of a safe event. "We have also passed on information from the public around safety concerns to allow organisers to make an informed decision on the running of the festival." Following their removal, Kneecap instead played a sold-out show at Glasgow's O2 Academy on Tuesday, July 8 - the week of the festival - insisting they wouldn't let fans down. Over 2,500 tickets were snapped up in just 80 seconds. Now, the trio is scaling up, preparing for their biggest Scottish show yet at the 14,000-capacity OVO Hydro.