Pay award

Local Government Employees, Craft, and Chief Officers

National pay awards are negotiated between COSLA and SJC Trades Unions on an annual basis. Pay awards are normally applied from 1 April for Local Government Employees (LGEs), Craft, and Chief Officers. Where pay awards are agreed after this date the changes to pay will be backdated to the 1st of April.

2025 to 2027 pay awards for Local Government Employees

The pay awards for Local Government Employees across Scotland were agreed on Thursday 10 July 2025.

Pay award details
Employee group 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027
  • Local Government Employees
  • Craft
  • Craft Apprentices
  • An 4% uplift on all spinal column points
  • A 4% uplift on working time payments and allowances
  • A 3.5% uplift on all spinal column points
  • A 3.5% uplift on working time payments and allowances
  • Chief Officer
  • A 4% uplift on all spinal column points
  • A 3.5% uplift on all spinal column points
  • Craft: Former Craft operatives were harmonised to LGE terms and conditions of pay in 2013 and will receive uplifts to pay in line with the LGE pay award.
  • Craft Apprentices: The 2025 to 2027 pay awards for Craft operatives were agreed on Friday 1 August 2025.
  • National first aid allowance: Details have still to be received.
  • The Scottish Local Government Living Wage
    • 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026: a 4% uplift to £13.06 for the hourly rate
    • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027: a 3.5% uplift to £13.52 for the hourly rate

Payment of the 2025 to 2026 pay award

Our teams are working hard to deliver the 2025 to 2026 pay award for LGEs in August 2025. This means that you should receive your pay increase, in full, with your August salary.

Colleagues in scope should receive their back-pay on Wednesday 27 August 2025. We’d like to thank you in advance for your patience in awaiting the delivery of the pay award in August.

Further information

Organisation leavers

Leavers pay award
Date of leaving Payment details
After 1 August 2025
  • You will receive your increased monthly pay and back-pay in your final pay on Wednesday 27 August 2025.
Between 1 April and 31 July 2025
  • Organisation leavers are in scope for back-dated pay awards, subject to recovery of any outstanding overpayments.
  • If you left the organisation between 1 April and 31 July, and you received your final pay between April and July 2025, you will automatically receive your back-pay on Wednesday 27 August 2025. You do not need to contact us to claim payment.
  • A printed payslip will be sent to your home address.
  • If you’ve changed bank details or address since you left the organisation, call askHR on 0131 469 5555 so your details can be updated in time for payment in August.

What happens next

  1. We aim to pay organisation leavers on Wednesday 27 August 2025.
  2. We'll also update Lothian Pension Fund where applicable and this work will be completed by Wednesday 31 December 2025.