Good morning members,

We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. We thank you all for your hard work over the year and for continuing to support the branch and UNISON. We also thank those members who are working over the holidays.

In the new year, we will inform you of our arrangements for the Annual General Meeting – so watch this space.

For our Local Government members – we have good news for you. COSLA have proposed a new and improved pay offer for a period of three years. The period covers the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2021.

The new pay offers is as follows:

• 2018/19 an increase of 3.% (capped at £80,000, on or above which a flat rate of £1600 will apply)
• 2019/20 an increase of 3%
• 2020/21 an increase of 3%
• In each of these three years, the Scottish Local Government Living Wage will rise by the percentage uplift referred to above.

The new offer will deliver a 9.5% over three years which is welcomed by the branch, UNISON and our sister unions. UNISON will ballot members in the new year and we encourage you to support the offer.

The branch thank all members who got involved in campaigning for this successful result.

If you would like more information, please go on the following link: http://www.unison-scotland.org/unison-welcomes-improved-pay-offer-for-council-workers/

And as always, get involved with the branch on Facebook @unisonargyllandbute or on the following link: https://www.facebook.com/unisonargyllandbute/

Kind regards,

The Argyll and Bute branch of UNISON