Local government leaders and union bosses have warned that the Scottish Government's proposed reforms are creating uncertainty for the council workforce.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the trade unions UNISON, GMB and UNITE said questions about jobs, staff transfers and possible impacts on terms and conditions remain unanswered.
In a joint statement, they warned local government reform must not be ‘top down’ and must involve a ‘meaningful engagement process’ involving the workforce, unions and employers, and must follow Fair Work principles and respect collective bargaining.
The statement follows proposals from the Scottish Government for six to 10 regional authorities and 120 to 160 community authorities. Councillors would continue to be elected at ward level and sit on both bodies, with bespoke solutions for island communities.
‘Public service reform must be evidence-based and underpinned by meaningful engagement with the Local Government workforce, realism about timescales and the complexities of reform, and the investment required to support the long-term sustainability of services,’ said COSLA resources spokesperson Cllr Kelly Parry.
‘Our joint message as Local Government employers and trade unions is clear and we stand ready to engage constructively with the Scottish Government as equal partners.’
Responding to the statement, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: ‘Public service reform will help to ensure investment is focused on frontline delivery to empower communities and deliver real improvements in public services. Some decision making is best delivered at national level and regional level while others better sit closer to communities and we must get that balance right.
‘Our proposals provide a starting point to facilitate debate during three months of dialogue with partners, including councils and trade unions, to inform the next steps. No decisions have been taken on future structures. Once formal reform proposals are developed, appropriate consultation will follow in the usual manner.’
