In August 2024, COSLA made a new and improved pay offer to our valued Scottish Joint Council (SJC) workforce.
If the offer is accepted, all members of the SJC workforce will receive either a £0.67 increase in hourly rate, or 3.6% increase in pay.
Hear more from our Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann, or read our factsheet.
Here are some key facts about the offer we thought you’d like to know
This is the strongest offer possible
Councils are facing significant financial challenges at the moment, but through talks between COSLA, Trade Unions and Scottish Government, more funding was made available for this offer. Frankly, this offer would have been unaffordable to councils without the additional funding, or risking cuts to vital jobs and services.
We listened and responded to Trade Unions’ asks
Trade Unions asked us to make it a priority that people on the lowest pay points received a better offer, because they are the ones facing the greatest financial hardship. We listened and made an offer that prioritised the highest rise for those who need it most.
The offer means everyone in the SJC workforce will see an above-inflation rise, and a bigger rise than Local Government workers elsewhere in the UK
We of course value the whole workforce and ensured that everyone in the SJC workforce is getting a rise that’s higher than inflation. If the workforce accepts this strong offer, it will mean:
- Every member of the SJC workforce will receive at least a 3.6% rise in salary
- For first pay point on our pay scales, there will be an increase of £1292 (or 5.63%).
- A bigger increase than the equivalent offer to Local Government Workers in England and Wales.
- This is a 5.63% increase in the Scottish Local Government Living Wage
This is a fantastic opportunity for workers to get an improved offer sooner rather than later.
This offer is strong and at the limit of what our councils can afford. COSLA works hard year-round for a better deal for councils from central government. For now, this offer means we can afford to give our workforce a good, above-inflation rise, when it’s very much needed, without risking essential jobs or services.
We hope that our valued workforce will vote to accept this offer.
More information
Read our 'Your Pay Made Clear' Factsheet to find out more about the offer.