Your Pay Made Clear Factsheet

Read our factsheet detailing the pay award for the Scottish local government workforce.

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COSLA is pleased to note that the National Joint Council (NJC) pay offer of £1,290 / 2.5% has been accepted by the local government workforce in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

We recently shared a statement in response to local UNISON strikes in Perth and Kinross here.

On Friday 27th September, Council Leaders agreed that the Scottish Joint Council (SJC) pay offer, which has been accepted by GMB and Unite members, should be implemented to ensure employees receive their pay uplift and backpay without further delay.

Read our open letter to the workforce following  the decision by council leaders to implement the offer.

The pay award means all members of the SJC workforce will receive either a £0.67 increase in hourly rate, or 3.6% increase in pay, whichever is greater.

Our Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann, recorded a short video about the features of this strong pay award before unions voted on the offer. Hear more details about what was offered to the workforce from Councillor Hagmann, below:

Here are some key facts about the uplift we thought you’d like to know

This is the strongest uplift 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 the pay awards. Frankly, this 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 award 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 award is a strong one 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 award means  our workforce receives a good, above-inflation rise, when it’s very much needed, without risking essential jobs or services.