Date: Mon 6 October 2014

UNISON announces a national programme of industrial action in local government

UNISON Scotland local government members announced today (Monday 6 October) that they have voted to take industrial action in their recent local government ballot.

Douglas Black UNISON regional officer for local government said ‘UNISON has consulted its members and the clear democratic decision is to take further industrial action. We will be running a programme of action which will affect every area of Scotland. We do not take decisions like this lightly. Our members know how many people rely on our services. But local government pay has dropped 14% since 2007. We have seen 39,400 job losses. And UNISON members feel they have to say enough is enough’

UNISON is the biggest trade union in Scotland and the biggest in local government. UNISON balloted members in local government between 9th to 29th September 2014. The UNISON ballot result was 53.5% for yes and 46.5% for no.

Douglas Black continued ‘This is a clear democratic decision, and our action will start in October. Our demands are simple. Fair pay for all workers and an end to low pay, and for employers get back round the table to discuss the big issues facing local government. There is real anger out there and so they need to talk to us as soon as possible.’’

Scottish employers have imposed a pay award of 1% on our members from 1 April 2014. This is below inflation and below Retail Price Index. UNISON members pay has eroded by 14% since 2007, based on Retail Price Index.

END

Notes for editors

UNISON is the biggest trade union in local government and is the biggest trade union in Scotland. UNISON balloted just over 71,000 local government members across Scotland

Index

2014 local government pay campaign pages