Local Government Employees, Craft, and Chief Officers
Updated 14 July 2025
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
The 2025 to 2027 pay awards for Local Government Employees across Scotland were agreed on Thursday 10 July 2025.
What the pay award includes
The agreed pay award spans over two years
- 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026: a 4% uplift on all spinal column points
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027: a 3.5% uplift on all spinal column points.
Local payments such as working time payments and allowances will be uplifted by
- 4% for 2025 to 2026
- 3.5% for 2026 to 2027.
We haven’t yet received an update about the national first aid allowance.
The Scottish Local Government Living Wage hourly rate will be increased
- 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026: a 4% uplift to £13.06
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027: a 3.5% uplift to £13.52
Craft - 2025 to 2027 pay award
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 - 2025 to 2027 pay award
Craft Apprentice pay is still aligned to the national Craft handbook, and we cannot apply uplifts to this group until the Craft pay award is confirmed to us. We aim to provide an update for Craft Apprentices as soon as further information is available.
Chief Officer - 2025 to 2027 pay award
The agreed pay award spans over two years
- 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026: a 4% uplift on all spinal column points
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027: a 3.5% uplift on all spinal column points.
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
- LGE salary rates for 2025 to 2027
- Pay award information guide for Local Government employees
- Understanding your back pay in August 2025
Organisation leavers
Leavers after 1 August 2025
If you leave the organisation after 1 August 2025, you will receive your increased monthly pay and back-pay in your final pay on Wednesday 27 August 2025.
Leavers 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
We aim to pay organisation leavers on Wednesday 27 August 2025.
We'll also update Lothian Pension Fund where applicable and this work will be completed by Wednesday 31 December 2025.