North and South Lanarkshire Council staff to be balloted on strike action
Staff at North or South Lanarkshire Council will receive formal ballot papers from today (Thursday) as they choose whether to vote for strike action. UNISON is balloting all staff it represents in local government in Scotland, the largest vote of its kind for many years. More than 80,000 workers across all 32 councils will have the opportunity to take part from May 1 until June 12. The move follows a recent consultation in which 92 per cent backed strike action. Local government employer body Cosla has offered all council workers in Scotland a three per cent increase for 2025-26. UNISON Scotland co-lead for local government David O'Connor said: 'Dedicated council staff have seen the value of their pay fall for more than a decade, as wages failed to keep pace with the cost of living. 'These workers deliver high-quality, vital services to communities, despite increasing pressures, dwindling resources and significant staffing shortages. 'Cosla's offer only adds to the real financial hardship faced by employees, especially with rent, council tax and energy bills continuing to soar. 'Strike action is always a last resort, but local government workers have been underpaid and undervalued for far too long. Cosla and the Scottish government need to step up and offer a decent wage increase that reflects the value if these workers.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here .
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