‘Competitive’ new pay offer for Scotland’s council workforce

COSLA has made a new pay offer for the Scottish Joint Council (SJC) Workforce. The offer, a 3.2% uplift on all Spinal Column Points, covers the period 1^st April 2024 to 31st March 2025.

This ‘competitive’ offer is:

• Worth more than the first year of the Scottish Government’s current Public Sector Pay Policy.
• Higher than current inflation (CPI).
• At the very limit of affordability for councils in the current challenging financial circumstances.
• Is a strong, fair and credible pay offer, reflecting the high value council Leaders place on the Local Government workforce and the invaluable work they do every day serving communities across Scotland.

COSLA has requested that our trade unions seek their members’ views on this improved offer and that they suspend plans for industrial action whilst this is considered.

COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann, said: “Following ongoing and constructive engagement with our Scottish Joint Council (SJC) Trade Unions, COSLA has today (18th July) written formally to the Trade Unions with a revised pay offer for the SJC Local Government workforce.

“This is for a 3.2% pay uplift at all pay points, for a one-year period of 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025, in line with the current SJC pay year. After listening to our Trade Union colleagues, the offer does not propose a change in the pay settlement date, which featured in our earlier offer. It is important to stress that this revised, fair offer is at the absolute limit of affordability for councils, given the severe financial constraints Local Government is facing.

“This strong offer is worth more than the first year of the Scottish Government’s current Public Sector Pay Policy. It is a strong, fair and credible pay offer, reflecting the high value council Leaders place on the Local Government workforce and the invaluable work they do every day serving communities across Scotland.

“We value the collective bargaining process with our Trade Union partners and remain committed to reaching a speedy and mutually agreeable resolution to pay discussions.  We request that our Trade Union colleagues seek their members’ views on this improved offer and that they suspend any plans for industrial action whilst this is considered.”