Union members across Scotland’s councils are preparing to walk out after rejecting a 3% pay offer, with ballots showing overwhelming support for strike action if no improved deal is put on the table.
The stage is now set for a major standoff between local authority workers and employers as discontent brews over what unions describe as years of pay erosion and disregard for the public sector’s lowest-paid staff.
More Than Just a Pay Dispute
This isn’t just about percentages. It’s personal now. Local government workers say they’re fed up watching their pay fall further behind as costs rise and recognition falters.
UNISON reported a whopping 92% of its voting members backed strike action in a consultative ballot. For the GMB, it was even higher—96%. And Unite members also said no to the offer.
Two sentences is all it takes: COSLA offered a 3% rise. Unions want 6.5%.
Behind the numbers lies frustration. Inflation is biting. The 3% on the table narrowly beats the 2.8% CPI rate in February, but not the more telling CPIH rate of 3.7%. That matters, especially with the Bank of England forecasting CPI to tick up to 3.7% before any decline kicks in. Workers feel like they’re being paid in yesterday’s money.
COSLA’s Balancing Act Meets a Wall of Anger
COSLA says its hands are tied. Councils are squeezed. Budgets are already paper-thin.
But union leaders aren’t buying it. Colette Hunter from UNISON’s local government committee wasn’t mincing her words. “The last thing anyone wants to do is strike,” she said. “But workers deserve a fair increase. This offer doesn’t cut it.”
Keir Greenaway, GMB’s senior public sector organiser, echoed that frustration: “Pennies on the hourly rate for the lowest-paid? It’s not even close to what these workers deserve.”
One sentence: COSLA says it’s doing its best. The unions say it’s not nearly enough.
What the Unions Want—and Why They’re Digging In
The 6.5% pay claim wasn’t just plucked from the air. It’s rooted in years of frustration over falling behind.
Unions say pay packets haven’t kept pace with living costs or even the private sector. They’re demanding a course correction, not a gesture.
Here’s what they’re pointing to:
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Real wages in local government have dropped in value over the past decade
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Public sector staff in Scotland often earn less than equivalent roles in other UK regions
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Inflation has outpaced wage growth in most years since 2010
Union officials argue that enough is enough. They want to stem the tide now before recruitment and morale sink even further.
Council Budgets vs Staff Morale: The Tug-of-War
COSLA’s defence rests on funding limits. Their spokesperson warned that pushing pay any higher could spark service cuts or tax hikes.
But workers feel they’re already picking up the slack. Many roles are understaffed. Overtime is unpaid. Stress is mounting.
Here’s the crunch:
| Offer | CPI (Feb) | CPIH (Feb) | BoE Forecast CPI (Peak) | Unions’ Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3% | 2.8% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 6.5% |
That table tells a blunt story. The offer barely keeps up with inflation, let alone makes up for years of underpayment.
One-liner: For staff who’ve been through austerity, COVID, and rising living costs, a 3% bump feels like déjà vu.
Strike Threat Becomes Real: What Happens Next?
This isn’t just sabre-rattling. UNISON and GMB have made clear—unless COSLA comes back with something better, formal ballots are on the way. And they’re not bluffing.
One sentence: If the official strike ballot goes ahead, councils across Scotland could grind to a halt by summer.
This would mean disruption in services from schools to bin collections to care work. And with social workers and other frontline staff already stretched, a strike would be felt fast and deep.
But there’s still a window. The offer hasn’t been formally accepted or withdrawn. Negotiations—strained as they are—haven’t collapsed entirely. Yet.
