Latest news with #UnisonScotland
Glasgow Times
28-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Enable Scotland care workers to begin five-day strike
The walkout, announced by Unison, will be the first national care strike in Scotland in more than a decade. It will start in East Renfrewshire and continue in Aberdeenshire, Moray, Ayrshire, Edinburgh, and Glasgow over the following days. READ MORE: Care workers to strike for first time in decade in dispute over pay The strike will end with a march and rally at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on June 12. Unison said the strike is a result of "years of broken promises and delays by the Scottish government to reform and fund social care properly." They claim care staff have been left with no option after being consistently let down by ministers. READ MORE: Hundreds of Scottish care workers being urged to strike Jennifer McCarey, Unison Scotland regional organiser, said: "The last thing care workers want to do is strike. "It's been a very difficult decision for them. "But promises of pay increases made by government ministers have been broken and Enable workers' pay has worsened. "The care sector is in crisis and the responsibility for that lies squarely with the Scottish government. "Until care staff are valued properly and paid fairly, the sector will never have the workforce it needs." Anna Baird, a Unison member and personal assistant with Enable Scotland for eight years, said: "I love my job and the people I support, that's why this decision was so hard. "But we're at breaking point. "Our pay doesn't reflect the responsibility we carry and many of us are struggling to make ends meet. "We're just asking to be valued for the vital work we do.'
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Thousands of council workers to be balloted on strike action
Staff will choose whether to stage walkouts as they continue a dispute with local authorities over pay. The ballot will close on June 12. It follows a recent consultation in which 92% backed strike action. Local government employer body Cosla has offered all council workers in Scotland a 3% increase for 2025-26, less than half of the union's request for a 6.5% pay rise. READ MORE: Further Education stewards quit union over dispute Major trade union removes all college branch officers 'with immediate effect' Scottish Water staff strike over pay dispute 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 of these workers.' Susanne Gens, chair of Unison Scotland's local government committee, added: 'Staff have indicated overwhelmingly that they've reached their limit. They can't afford to shoulder the burden of real-terms pay cuts. 'Local government workers are the glue that holds communities together and provide essential services on which everyone relies. 'The Scottish Government and Cosla must recognise their worth and respond with a fair pay offer that values these essential workers.' Cosla has been approached for comment.
Daily Record
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Strike ballot opens for Ayrshire council staff after 'pitiful' pay offer
Workers across all three of Ayrshire's councils are being balloted for strike action after rejecting a "pitiful" pay offer. Unison members will be receiving formal ballot papers from Thursday (May 1) as they choose whether to vote for strike action over pay. Local government employer body Cosla had offered all council workers in Scotland a three per cent increase for 2025-26 - less than half the pay claim Unison was looking for. More than 82,000 workers across all 32 councils will have the opportunity to take part in the ballot until June 12 and a result is expected shortly after. Unison say a recent consultation showed 92 per cent of members were in favour of strike action. David O'Connor, Unison Scotland co-lead for local government, 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 of these workers.' Susanne Gens, chair of Unison Scotland's local government committee, said: 'Staff have indicated overwhelmingly that they've reached their limit. They can't afford to shoulder the burden of real-terms pay cuts. 'Local government workers are the glue that holds communities together and provide essential services on which everyone relies. "The Scottish Government and Cosla must recognise their worth and respond with a fair pay offer that values these essential workers.' Cosla was contacted for comment. When the ballot was first announced, a spokesperson for South Ayrshire Council said: 'We are aware of the industrial action ballot and await notification of the outcome.' A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson added: 'We are continuing to closely monitor the situation with regard to the pay offer for local government employees. 'It would be inappropriate, at this stage, to comment further.' East Ayrshire Council declined to comment. Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter
Powys County Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Scottish Water staff to strike over pay dispute
Strikes are planned at Scottish Water this week after workers 'overwhelmingly' rejected a pay offer. Workers represented by GMB Scotland and Unison Scotland will strike on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of a rolling programme of industrial action threatening emergency repairs, testing and maintenance. GMB Scotland organiser Claire Greer said the strikes are going ahead after the publicly-owned utility company failed to improve a pay offer which was 'overwhelmingly rejected' by workers, while Unison Scotland organiser Emma Phillips said previous pay deals 'haven't kept up with inflation'. Ms Greer said the company had revised the offer after joint talks with conciliation service Acas but 'only made it worse'. And she warned that industrial action will 'escalate' unless a 'fair and acceptable offer' is put forward, with plans for lengthier, more disruptive walkouts next month, along with other unions, expected to go ahead. However, a spokesman for Scottish Water said the offer is 'above inflation' and prioritises 'the highest percentage increases in the business for those on the lowest salary grades'. Ms Greer said: 'The company has made these negotiations painfully complicated for no good reason. 'A revised offer received last week was shorter but clearly no better than the one already rejected and, for some workers, worse. 'Our priority remains reaching a resolution to this dispute but weeks of talks have managed to leave us behind where we started. 'The strikes will go on and action will escalate until our members are made a fair and acceptable pay offer.' Workers backed industrial action after the water company, whose executives received record bonuses last year, according to the union, reduced the terms of a pay offer that had already been rejected, according to GMB Scotland. Workers voted against an offer of 3.4% or £1,400 covering the last nine months as the company changes the date for annual rises to take effect from July to April. Scottish Water's chief operating officer, Peter Farrer, said a meeting was held with Acas and unions on April 15 and the company 'made a different, further improved proposal in an effort to reach an agreement' under which 'some employees will receive around 5.5%'. Unison Scotland regional organiser Emma Phillips said: 'Strike action is always a last resort. 'Staff have suffered a decade of pay deals that haven't kept up with inflation. 'They are not willing to be underpaid any longer. 'The union has done everything it can to try and get Scottish Water's senior managers to put a fair offer on the table, but they are refusing to be reasonable.' Unison Scottish Water branch secretary Tricia McArthur said: 'Scottish Water workers are simply asking to be paid fairly for the essential services upon which everyone in Scotland relies. 'Things are meant to be different in a publicly-owned service like this. 'But senior managers are behaving no differently to those running private water companies south of the border.' A Scottish Water spokesman said: 'We are very disappointed that we have still not been able to reach an agreement with the trade unions. 'We would encourage them to restart meaningful negotiations as soon as possible and to recognise the need to agree on a sustainable pay award for our people. 'No-one benefits from industrial action and our focus is on continuing to deliver for our millions of customers across Scotland. 'Our above-inflation pay offer is fair and progressive, prioritising the highest percentage increases in the business for those on the lowest salary grades – money that should be in employees' pockets now. 'We have improved the offer in an effort to reach an agreement with the trade unions and we are now offering a combined deal for 2024/25 and 2025/26. This is a strong offer which is above inflation and the public sector pay policy.'
The Independent
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Scottish Water staff to strike over pay dispute
Strikes are planned at Scottish Water this week after workers 'overwhelmingly' rejected a pay offer. Workers represented by GMB Scotland and Unison Scotland will strike on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of a rolling programme of industrial action threatening emergency repairs, testing and maintenance. GMB Scotland organiser Claire Greer said the strikes are going ahead after the publicly-owned utility company failed to improve a pay offer which was 'overwhelmingly rejected' by workers, while Unison Scotland organiser Emma Phillips said previous pay deals 'haven't kept up with inflation'. Ms Greer said the company had revised the offer after joint talks with conciliation service Acas but 'only made it worse'. And she warned that industrial action will 'escalate' unless a 'fair and acceptable offer' is put forward, with plans for lengthier, more disruptive walkouts next month, along with other unions, expected to go ahead. However, a spokesman for Scottish Water said the offer is 'above inflation' and prioritises 'the highest percentage increases in the business for those on the lowest salary grades'. Ms Greer said: 'The company has made these negotiations painfully complicated for no good reason. 'A revised offer received last week was shorter but clearly no better than the one already rejected and, for some workers, worse. 'Our priority remains reaching a resolution to this dispute but weeks of talks have managed to leave us behind where we started. 'The strikes will go on and action will escalate until our members are made a fair and acceptable pay offer.' Workers backed industrial action after the water company, whose executives received record bonuses last year, according to the union, reduced the terms of a pay offer that had already been rejected, according to GMB Scotland. Workers voted against an offer of 3.4% or £1,400 covering the last nine months as the company changes the date for annual rises to take effect from July to April. Scottish Water's chief operating officer, Peter Farrer, said a meeting was held with Acas and unions on April 15 and the company 'made a different, further improved proposal in an effort to reach an agreement' under which 'some employees will receive around 5.5%'. Unison Scotland regional organiser Emma Phillips said: 'Strike action is always a last resort. 'Staff have suffered a decade of pay deals that haven't kept up with inflation. 'They are not willing to be underpaid any longer. 'The union has done everything it can to try and get Scottish Water's senior managers to put a fair offer on the table, but they are refusing to be reasonable.' Unison Scottish Water branch secretary Tricia McArthur said: 'Scottish Water workers are simply asking to be paid fairly for the essential services upon which everyone in Scotland relies. 'Things are meant to be different in a publicly-owned service like this. 'But senior managers are behaving no differently to those running private water companies south of the border.' A Scottish Water spokesman said: 'We are very disappointed that we have still not been able to reach an agreement with the trade unions. 'We would encourage them to restart meaningful negotiations as soon as possible and to recognise the need to agree on a sustainable pay award for our people. 'No-one benefits from industrial action and our focus is on continuing to deliver for our millions of customers across Scotland. 'Our above-inflation pay offer is fair and progressive, prioritising the highest percentage increases in the business for those on the lowest salary grades – money that should be in employees' pockets now. 'We have improved the offer in an effort to reach an agreement with the trade unions and we are now offering a combined deal for 2024/25 and 2025/26. This is a strong offer which is above inflation and the public sector pay policy.'
