Pay offer made - 1.5% this year, 1% next year and new deal on Living Wage. Ballot starts 2 September. Make sure you vote

Following months of negotiations, the Scottish Employers have made UNISON and the other SJC trade unions a final pay offer for council staff as follows:

• A pay agreement which covers the period from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2017
• 2015 -2016. As of 1st April 2015, the Scottish Local Government Living Wage of £7.85ph will be applied, following which there will be an increase of 1.5% on all spinal column points. This would achieve a Scottish Local Government Living Wage of £7.97ph
• 2016 – 2017. As of 1st April 2016, the Living Wage will be increased to the recommended figure of the Living Wage Foundation, following which there will be an increase of 1% on all spinal column points.
• A commitment from the employers to examine the feasibility of a ‘flat rate’ settlement in future pay rounds subject to the trade unions making such a claim.

UNISON Personal Learning Development Grants for school support staff members

Are you a Schools Support worker? Do you want to learn something new? Or are you keen develop your career?

UNISON is piloting Personal Learning Development Grants for Schools Support Staff and is offering 10 awards of up to £300 each to help pay for course fees.

Hurry apply now! Click here for an application form. Applications must be in by 27th August.

Susan Kennedy

Susan Kennedy, Aberdeenshire UNISON Assistant Branch Secretary said, "We know how difficult it is to afford training to improve your job prospects due to huge increases in course fees and the withdrawal by many employers of financial support for career development. 

"Our Schools Support Staff members make up an increasing proportion of our union’s membership. 

"To help you get on at work and develop your career, UNISON is piloting Personal Learning Development Grants for Schools Support Staff.  10 awards of up to £300 each are offered to help pay for course fees.

Scotland United Against Austerity, George Square, Glasgow - a truly historic event

#ScotlandAgainstAusterity Aberdeenshire Branch members joined over 5000 people at the anti-austerity rally in George Square, Glasgow on Saturday 20th June.

Over 5000 gather to demand an end to austerity

Trade unions, political parties and community groups brought their banners and placards in a colourful display, all with one message. End austerity - it only benefits the rich.

They were part of a day of demonstrations against austerity with almost 250,000 thronging the streets of London to give the same message to this Tory Government. Austerity doesn't work and austerity hits the poorest and most vulnerable hardest. End austerity NOW.

Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair, who attended the rally said, "With inspiring speeches, great music and even some sunshine, it was a great event.

Conference calls for unity to expose the Tory lies and to protect public services

#uNDC15 UNISON's National Delegate Conference, held in Glasgow from 16-19 June 2015 was all about unity this year as delegates faced up to the fight of our lives - against a Tory government hell-bent on slashing public services and cutting benefits to our most vulnerable, whilst doing nothing to ensure the richest pay their fair share in tax.

General Secretary, Dave Prentis gave an inspirational speech and got a standing ovation as he condemned a vicious and vindictive Tory government and called for unity to fight for a better future for our members. He pledged to stand shoulder to shoulder with members on strike and warned employers "if you come after our activists we will take you on. An injury to one is an injury to all.

Join together and fight to protect public services and public service workers

#uLGC15 UNISON's Local Government Conference held in Glasgow from 15-16 June 2015, was all about the protection of public services and public service workers as delegates heard horror stories of the impact of the cuts on our members and on the people to whom they provide services.


Branch delegates,
Kate Ramsden and Ann Gray

We heard that huge numbers of our members are not paid the living wage and many are struggling to survive on low pay, insecure employment and zero hours contracts.

The effect of the cuts has meant that those in work are having to do more with less, affecting their work life balance with many going off with stress. Austerity has also had an impact on health and safety at work, and has had a huge impact on equalities with gains for women, black, disabled and LGBT workers being eroded daily. Young people have taken a terrible hit with unemployment higher amongst the 16-25 year olds that in any other age group.

Branch members join hundreds to celebrate May Day and march for equality, social justice and workers rights

Branch members joined more than five hundred people from trade unions and campaigning groups, including a number of key local politicians and friends of the ATUC, to march along Union Street on Saturday 2nd March to celebrate International Workers’ Day and to call for an end to austerity.

Led off by the Guarana Drummers, the march was both colourful and noisy as banners and placards were held aloft and marchers moved to the beat of the drums.

Passersby stopped to watch, wave and to take photos, and to show their support for the marchers. Somewhere along the route, the sun came out and the weather stayed fine and Springlike as marchers gathered for an outdoor rally at the Castlegate.

Branch Chair and Vice President of the ATUC compered the Rally where speaker after speaker called for an end to austerity and solidarity across borders.

Click here for a full report of the march and rally on the ATUC site

Click here to see more May Day pics on picasa

Workers' Memorial Day - We owe it to the memories of those who have died to fight for the rights of working people

Branch Chair, Kate Ramsden and our two Health and Safety Officers, Richard Lawrence and Tricia Morrison attended the Workers' Memorial Day Service at Persley Gardens, Aberdeen on 28th April where they joined other Trade Unionists, politicians and citizens in a poignant ceremony.

Kate, in her role as Vice President of the Aberdeen Trades union Council, led the ceremony and also spoke on behalf of the ATUC.

Click here for a full report of the service.