Local Authority workers have accepted a pay offer of 4% this year and 3.5% in 2026/27.

Unison is the largest trade union representing council workers in Orkney, and in Scotland.

UNISON Scotland local government committee chair Suzanne Gens commented:

“This pay deal is a crucial step in turning round cuts to council staff pay.

“It gives local government workers some financial security now they know their pay will be higher than inflation over the next couple of years.

“This has only been achieved because of the determination of council workers to demand better.”

The deal which represents a cumulative uplift in basic pay of 7.6 per cent by April 2026 is also supported by the trade unions Unite and the GMB.

Graham McNab, Unite’s lead negotiator for local government, said: 

“Scottish council workers have given their backing to a decent pay rise covering the next two years. We are pleased the negotiations were held in a far more productive way this year than in the past and this should set a benchmark for future years.” 

COSLA is the organisation which represents Scotland’s Local Authorities.

COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann, said:

“I’m pleased that GMB and UNITE members, alongside UNISON, have voted to accept the strong two-year pay offer from COSLA. This means a two year pay settlement has been agreed – which will bring a welcome period of stability and certainty about pay for our workforce.

“In agreeing this pay settlement, which is worth 4% in year 1, effective from 1st April 2025, and a further 3.5% increase in year 2 from 1st April 2026, Council Leaders recognise the value our employees in Scotland’s councils deliver every day.

“Councils are now able take forward work to get the pay increase of 7.64% over the two-year period into the pockets of our workforce. While the agreement will have come too late for most councils’ July pay runs we know that payroll teams locally will be working hard to implement the uplift and any backpay due in the next months.”