An email containing a link to an e-ballot on COSLA’s improved pay offer has been sent to all UNISON members in local government. UNISON Scotland’s local government committee believes this offer is significant enough to suspend all strike action and consult our local...

UNISON's Energy Support Fund will open on 27 September 2023. Due to finite funds, only 2,000 applications will be accepted. 1,000 will be released at 8.30am and 1,000 at 5pm. Applications will be made online on the following webpage: Energy Support Fund | There for...

The Argyll and Bute branch narrowly missed on meeting the threshold to take strike action. We thank all our members who voted and will work to ensure a greater turn out next time round. Congratulations to the 24 Local Government branches across Scotland who will be...

Despite our efforts we are at an impasse with COSLA. They have not improved their pay offer made in April, which UNISON members overwhelmingly rejected in a consultative ballot. Therefore, we are now proceeding with an industrial ballot for select group of...

Thank you to all our members who joined us for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday 15 February 2023, at the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre and virtually on Microsoft Teams. Please find the minutes from the meeting here:...

The winter fuel grant programme opens at 10am on Wednesday 25 January.It offers a one-off, non-repayable grant of £200 to help UNIONS’s most vulnerable low-income members and to help ease the worry of paying for their next fuel bill during the coldest months of the...

Dear members, Please save the date for our upcoming Argyll and Bute Branch Annual General Meeting (AGM). AGM Details Date: Wednesday 15 February 2023Time: 12:30 – 2:00pmLocation: Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre/Microsoft Teams for those who cannot attend in...

UNISON ENERGY SUPPORT FUND OPENS AT 10AM TODAY. The fund will close once the first 4,000 applications have been received. The Energy Support Fund is a one-off, non-repayable grant of £200. To be eligible for phase 2 of the fund, you must meet the following criteria:...

Update from Argyll and Bute Council: *Please note the following applies to all SJC staff who are on the council’s SLGE pay grades. It is not applicable to teachers or chief officers. There is now formal agreement of the pay award covering 1st April 2022 to 31st March...

UNISON Welfare’s Energy Support Fund is now open for applications. This is a one-off non repayable grant of £200 for members struggling with their energy bills. Members who wish to apply must meet the grant’s eligibility criteria. In this phase, we will be accepting...

Following consultation with members, UNISON have accepted COSLA's pay offer of 2nd September 2022. UNISON members across Scotland have voted to accept the latest pay offer, with 67% voted to accept and 33% for rejection. The ballot turnout was 64%. The branch will now...

UNISON has secured an improved pay offer from COSLA and is now balloting members, with the recommendation to accept the offer. Members must vote by 5pm on Wednesday 28 September. Your say matters, so please take the time to vote. Members will be sent their ballot via...

Following many hours of intense negotiations both with COSLA and the Deputy First Minister last week we were sent a revised offer from COSLA today. Your Local Government Committee met this morning to consider this offer and agreed to put it to members in an electronic...

We have now received the results of the Local Government Industrial Action ballot. Unfortunately the 50% ballot turnout threshold set in the Trade Union Act 2017 has not been met in Argyll and Bute. This means that we will not be able to proceed to take action in...

UNISON is balloting its members in a dispute over pay. The union is planning targeted strike action – this means select groups of workers will be balloted. UNISON is campaigning for a pay rise for ALL local government workers. The groups that will be balloted for...

All UNISON Scottish Local Government members should have received a consultative ballot by e-mail. We are asking whether you are willing to take some form of action, up to and including strike action, in pursuit of an improved and acceptable pay offer from the...

Thanks to all our members who attended our Local Government Pension Scheme Session on Monday 28 March 2022. We are looking for a UNISON Pension Champion and if you're interested, please get in touch with Louise Brown our Local Organiser at Louise.Brown@unison.co.uk....

There for You is UNISON's Welfare scheme to help support members experiencing financial and emotional difficulties. With the rising cost of fuel, they have created a leaflet which provides members with information and guidance that can support you towards your energy...

UNISON’s Winter Fuel Grant Programme offers grants of up £200 to help the union's most vulnerable low-income members. Applications for the grant open on 31 January 2022 and we recommend members to apply as soon as possible. Please also share this with members who may...

Hello members and Happy New Year. We hope that you are all keeping safe and well. We are writing to invite you to the Argyll and Bute Branch Annual General Meeting (AGM) which will take place online due to the current health protection measures. The AGM is an...

UNISON Local Government members have voted to accept a pay deal. UNISON announced the result of its ballot on Monday 29 November 2021 with more than 75% voting in favour of the offer. Details of the offer are: An increase in the Scottish Local Government Living Wage...

The consultative ballot on the revised pay offer is now live. Members will receive an email with an opportunity to vote on whether to accept or reject the revised pay offer. UNISON has produced a Frequently Asked Questions on the pay offer which can be accessed at:...

The Local Government Pay Ballot opened today, 1st September, and will run until 22nd September 2021. This is a targeted ballot for a select group of workers: School Cleaning School Catering School Janitorial Waste and Recycling Members included in the ballot will...

UNISON is #ThereForYou and your family. If you’ve got kids going back to school next term, please check to see if you could get help with the cost of their uniform. Applications open today so please apply quickly and share with any other members you think could...

FAO SOCIAL WORK MEMBERS We are pleased to advise that members have voted by a massive 93% yes to 7% no to accept the proposed collective agreement on the Social Work Emergency Service. We would like to thank you for the solidarity and determination you have shown over...

FAO ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL MEMBERS UNISON is currently making preparations for an Industrial Action Ballot of members following the recent pay consultation result, where 87% of those participating rejected the employers offer and 74% indicating they are prepared to...

We are delighted to announce today the winners of our prize draw. Congratulations to Louise Bates, John Dyer, Ciaran Norris, Rachel Watson and Leanne Yule. Our five members won a £100 prize voucher to a store of their choice. Our prize draw competition ran from 15...

Local Government members - we are asking you to please take part in the ballot. We ask that you 𝗥𝗘𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧 the pay offer and to vote 𝗬𝗘𝗦 to industrial action. You can place your vote here: https://unison.tfaforms.net/190 Why are we asking you to reject the pay offer? We...

FAO OF ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL MEMBERS Thank you to all members who voted in our ballot on the Consolidation of the Living Wage and Changes to Local Government Employees Local Terms and Conditions.The ballot closed yesterday, 24th March 2021, and we can now confirm...

For the attention of all Social Work Members, You will be aware that UNISON and Unite have been pursuing issues concerning the SWES for several years. These include the current standby rate and non-pay issues such as training, exemptions, and work/life balance. We...

A big thank you to all our members who joined us for our first ever virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 25 February 2021. There were some challenges for us in navigating around Microsoft Teams, so thank you for your patience and sticking with us. For...

For the attention of all Argyll and Bute Council employed members Please look out for the letter and ballot paper on the Consolidation of the Living Wage and Changes to Local Government Employees Local Terms and Conditions which you should receive both by post and...

Members, This is a reminder for our upcoming Argyll and Bute Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will be held this Thursday, 25 February 2021. AGM Details Thursday 25 February 202112 noon – 2pmvia Microsoft Teams Please get in touch if you plan to join and we will...

Members, We believe it is more important than ever to be part of UNISON and to show you our appreciation, we are running a prize draw open to all members and new members. There are 5 prizes of £100 voucher up for grabs. To enter, we are asking members to do one of the...

UNISON's There for You Winter Fuel Grant will open for applications on Monday 25 January 2021. This year, members can apply to a grant of up to £200 to help with fuel bills this winter. To be eligible, members income must be less than £18,200 (if living alone) or...

Good afternoon members and Happy New Year. We hope that you are all keeping safe and well. We are writing to invite you to the Argyll and Bute Branch Annual General Meeting (AGM) which will take place online due to the current health protection measures. The AGM is an...

Seasons greetings members,We wish you all a wonderful time over the holidays and thank those members who will be working over this period.We thank you all for your hard work over this difficult year and for continuing to support the branch and UNISON.What we’ve done...

The Scottish Government announced on Monday 30 November 2020 a bonus payment for NHS and social care workers. The £500 bonus payment for full time and pro rata part time workers applies to: Care home staffHome care staffPalliative care/hospice staffAdult care Personal...

From Monday 16 November 2020, the COVID-19 response fund will open. The fund is for members who have been struggling financially. We urge members to apply as soon as possible, as there will be high demand for the fund. For more information, click the following link:...

SURVEY ON WORKING PRACTICES  We are inviting you to take part in our survey on working practices. The purpose of this survey is to gather information that can be used to help us in future discussions with employers on a fair and sustainable return to work....

*** School Uniform Grant *** If you have kids going back to school soon, you may be able to get help with the cost of their uniforms. They are one-off grants of £50 per school age child, up to a total of £150. To find out more information, head over to the...

**FREE WORKSHOPS ON TRAUMA AND PTSD** Our colleagues at Unison Scotland Learning and Organising have secured funding for one hour digital workshops on Trauma and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) awareness. Many public sector workers and those working...

*FOR ATTENTION OF OUR EDUCATION MEMBERS - SAFE RETURN TO SCHOOLS & EARLY YEARS INFORMATION PACK* UNISON has produced an information pack and safety checklist for members working in schools and early years. UNISON stresses that we need risk assessments,...

Local Government workers' survey Members, please take part in UNISON Scotland's latest survey. Your views are important and they will help shape our campaign for local government. Take part here: https://unison-scotland.org/local-government-workers-survey/...

** COVID-19 - PPE UPDATE** Today UNISON said: The situation with regards to PPE for key workers in Argyll & Bute has been at best mixed and at worst disgraceful. The situation on the ground for too many key workers has been lack of clarity and lack of...

** CORONAVIRUS UPDATE **We hope you are all keeping well during this unprecedented time.We want to thank all of you for your continuing to work hard and providing an essential public service for when our communities need us most.The situation is changing...

SOCIAL WORK MEMBERS Please see our flier below which details all our upcoming social work meetings. Social Work Members Meetings 2020 We hope to see you there. Please get in touch at unisonargyllandbute@gmail.com if you need any further...

Get help with your winter fuel bills Are you on a low income? Help is on hand! There for You has set up a limited fund to help UNISON members. If your net income is £18,000 or less you may be eligible to receive a grant of £40. To apply and download the...

*Letter sent the Council Leader and Policy Lead for Health and Social Care to urge the need for the Council to look into insourcing for home care* UNISON believes it is time for Argyll & Bute Council and the HSCP to look again at how care at home services...

This competition is now closed! Congratulations to Pamela McNaughton! Thank you to all members who took part and updated their contact details on MyUnison.