Welcome to Unison
Menu
UNISON is Scotland’s largest public sector trade union representing around 160,000 members delivering services in the public, community and private sector across Scotland.
What is a trade union?
A trade union is a group of working people who have joined together to achieve better pay and working conditions and a safer working environment.
Trade unions negotiate with employers on behalf of union members to agree wages, work rules, complaint procedures, rules governing hiring, firing and promotion of workers, benefits, workplace safety and other policies.
In recent years, unions have campaigned for and won:
● a national minimum wage
● improved parental leave provisions
● equality legislation
● laws on reasonable working hours
● minimum holiday and sickness entitlements
● health and safety in the workplace
You can think of trade unions as your insurance policy for work.
UNISON is the trade union for all public service workers even if they work for voluntary organisations or private companies; we believe in:
- Equality – we are all different, but we all deserve to be treated with respect and fairness. UNISON is structured to encourage participation from members in equality groups.
- All of our voices should be heard in solidarity – we work together to support each other at work.
- Our members have a right to make the decisions that shape their union participation.
- We aim to share our skills, commitment and creativity to build a stronger union.
UNISON in Dumfries & Galloway
We have over 5000 members in Dumfries and Galloway, with Branch Officers, Stewards and Health & Safety Reps located throughout the region you have a strong local Branch support network ready to help you wherever and whenever you need us.
Locally, UNISON reps have negotiated far better than statutory minimum terms and conditions for members in their workplaces. Please join us and support your colleagues in attaining better working conditions – Together, we are stronger.
If you are looking for support in your workplace in these uncertain times Join UNISON today.
My Unison
My UNISON is where members can store and manage personal details.
Log in now to update your records
Join Us Now
RT: The #Guidnychburris Overbanks #Rideout leaves Huntingdon Road #Dumfries at 7pm on Tuesday 29 May. Remember to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
RT: It's 25 May... GDPR is now in play. You know the drill! Here's our member guide to new #dataprotection regulations… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
RT: Congratulations to all our students at the Stranraer Campus who will be attending their Celebration of Success even… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Mental health is something no one should be afraid to talk about
Unions can play a positive role in promoting good mental health at work.
So start a conversation today.
Following the Unison members' vote by 91% to accept the pay offer we will advise the employer of our decision. Unfortunately we have to wait till the other 2 unions complete their consultation process. GMB are recommending acceptance of the offer (they delayed this consultation till now and won't complete it till near the end of February) and Unite have consulted and voted narrowly to reject the offer (they are now considering whether they should hold a 'statutory' ballot for strike action and whether they would be able to deliver effective action). Unison members by far out number the other 2 unions but we respect their right to complete their consultations. Unfortunately this will delay the timescale for paying out the pay rise. As soon as we have any more details we will let you know.
Pay offer acceptPress Release:
UNISON members overwhelmingly vote to accept pay offer for council workers
UNISON, the largest union in local government, have today informed COSLA that their members have overwhelmingly voted to accept the pay offer for local government workers.
The move follows a consultative ballot of UNISON Scotland local government members in which 91% voted in favour of the deal and in record numbers. UNISON’s ballot closed on Thursday 31 January.
Results of the ballot were announced at UNISON Scotland’s Local Government Committee today (Friday 1 February).
The pay offer would deliver 9.5% cost of living increase over three years: 3.5% for 2018-19, 3% for 2019-20 and 3% for 2020-21. In addition it provides a commitment to fully consolidating the living wage, putting more money in the pockets of lower paid council workers, something UNISON has been campaigning on for years.
It also provides a commitment to re-open negotiations in the event of another local government bargaining group’s total pay offer value is revised such that it becomes greater than the sum agreed between COSLA Employers and the SJC Trade Unions for the SJC workforce for the period of the agreement. The award will be backdated to 1 April 2018.
UNISON Head of local government Scotland Johanna Baxter said: “This is a great outcome, delivered as a direct result of the campaigning activity and political lobbying efforts of UNISON members up and down the country. The cost of living increases meet current and projected levels of RPI and we have secured commitments to fully consolidate the living wage and maintain parity across the local government workforce. Our members have been waiting on a pay increase for over a year now so look forward to receiving their increase soon."
UNISON chair of local government committee in Scotland Mark Ferguson said: “UNISON has campaigned hard to get the best deal we can for local government workers. While the offer does not make up for the many years of austerity, the offer, and particularly the commitment to consolidate the Living Wage, provides important safeguards for our lowest paid members.
"We will work to ensure this is properly delivered and local government workers will now receive back dated money in their pay packets in coming months.”
Notes:
- The improved pay offer has come after months of campaigning and negotiations by the SJC trades unions.
- The offer would deliver cost of living increases of 3.5% for 2018-19, 3% for 2019-20 and 3% for 2020-21. In addition it provides a commitment to fully consolidating the Living Wage and provides for negotiations to be re-opened in the event that any other local government bargaining group’s total pay offer value is revised such that it becomes greater than the sum agreed with the SJC trade unions.
- Read COSLA offer letter here: Formal SJC Pay Offer 191218
- UNISON are the largest trade union in Scottish Local Government – representing 80,000 local government workers across the
country – and the largest trade union in the UK.
Local government workers have endured a decade of austerity with job cuts, and a decade real terms pay cuts.
The online ballot closes Bert soon - if you haven't already voted please make your opinion count - vote!
You can vote on the revised pay offer here:-
unison.tfaforms.net/56 or you can phone 0800 0857 857.
Please note you will need your membership number or National Insurance number.
