Live Decisions of Congress 2024

Motion 57

Contingent Workers in the Public Sector

“That this Congress notes that Finance Secretary Shona Robison’s assertion that staffing for services may need to be reduced due to ‘tight budgets’ has angered among public sector workers and our representatives.

“For the majority of workers in these areas, there is a shared understanding that our public and civil services cannot function with fewer staff members than they currently have. Public sector unions have made this viewpoint unequivocally clear, and it is essential that we continue to counter any unfounded claims in the media.

“Congress observes a significant increase in the Scottish Government’s spending on external contractors and contingency staff through private agencies since 2020. The costs of this across the Scottish public sector landscape is phenomenal and the Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit Committee should therefore take an active interest not only in the costs of these contracts but the length of them.

“This spending pattern raises concerns about the efficient use of public funds in the long term. Contractors and consultants in specialised fields often do not contribute to building the skills of the existing workforce after their projects are completed. Contingency staff are frequently used to fill gaps in areas where recruitment is challenging due to low pay.

“Congress asserts that the primary focus of discussions regarding staffing in the public sector should be on this excessive reliance on contractors, and contingency staff, rather than on the dedicated public servants who tirelessly keep the country operational.

“Congress calls on the General Council to:

• play a pivotal role supporting unions’ campaigns on this issue; and
• facilitate and assist affiliates in conducting research across the sector to assess these costs. The goal is to ensure that public funds are directed towards measures that enable public servants to be fairly compensated for their vital work, fostering recruitment and staff retention.”

Mover: Public & Commercial Services Union