The severe weather experienced across Scotland early in 2018 had a severe and prolonged impact on workers and businesses. Many workers were unable to get to work; some were prevented from working; and those with caring responsibilities were also affected. This Charter has been developed jointly by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), providing a set of guiding principles to support employers and workers to plan for and manage the impact of severe weather.
November 2018
This report reviews the latest data from the Office for National Statistics on the Low Carbon and Renewable Economy in Scotland in 2021. The analysis builds upon previous STUC reports into the Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy, ‘Broken Promises and Offshored Jobs’ and ‘Scotland’s Renewable Jobs Crisis & Covid 19’.
May 2023
STUC research showing that over the last two years the average employee in Scotland has lost more than £1,400 in real wages as a result of pay not keeping up with inflation.
August 2023
STUC briefing showing that Scotland's gender pay gap has increased from 6.4% in 2023 to 8.3% in 2024.
November 2024
This report looks at the past promises of employment in the low-carbon and renewable energy (LCRE) economy and how this has not translated into the jobs boom promised. By analysing the current make-up of employment in the low-carbon economy and a number of recent renewables projects, it considers the implications of a failure of industrial policy. In presenting this report, the STUC are not criticising the LCRE economy per se. Indeed the STUC is absolutely committed to building a low-carbon economy and meeting climate change targets. However, we are criticising the failure of industrial policy to ensure that workers, businesses, and Government in Scotland benefit from Scotland’s natural resources. Without a domestic industrial base for the LCRE economy, not only will workers in Scotland miss out, but there are serious implications in terms of tax, transparency, economic democracy and meeting climate targets.
April 2019
This report by Professor Phil Taylor analyses the responses of 510 contact centre workers in Scotland and the hazards they face from exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and the disease Covid19. Extensive evidence of serious dangers, including no or inadequate social distancing, face-to-face contact, hotdesking, problems with HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems. The report combines primary evidence with a critical review of including an extensive literature consisting of reports, academic articles, practitioner and government guidance. It concludes with an extended discussion section exploring the implications, Finally, a recommendations' chapter identifies important steps that should be taken to ensure contact workers' safety.
June 2020
More than 1400 people completed STUC’s survey about travelling to work in adverse weather conditions during the ‘Beast from the East’ between 1-6 March 2018. The results show that respondents who had a trade union representative to speak to were more likely to be satisfied by their employer’s response; there is a lack of clarity about essential services; and ‘non-direct’ public sector staff, such as cleaning, catering, and support staff were badly impacted. This suggests a disjoint between what different levels of Government are saying publicly and what is happening in practice.
March 2018
The STUC Womens’ Committee launched a survey on menopause in the workplace at the 90th STUC Women’s Conference in Glenrothes in October 2017. This is report on the survey results finds that 99% of respondents either don’t have or don’t know if they have a workplace menopause policy, while 63% said the menopause has been treated as a joke at work.
January 2018
This report examines social care and early learning and childcare (ELC) in Scotland. It looks at recruitment and retention issues in these female-dominated, undervalued sectors and considers the implications of current trends, forecasts and policy commitments. It concludes that a perfect storm of existing staffing issues, an ageing population, Scottish Government policy commitments, Brexit, automation, and historic and ongoing equal pay discrimination is likely to lead to further staffing issues and increasing industrial unrest. The report recommends that alongside increased investment, sectoral bargaining structures are put in place to ensure that future changes are brought about in partnership with workers, employers and the Scottish Government.
April 2019
This is the main report of a project to map collective bargaining in Scotland, carried out in late 2020 to early 2021 by the Labour Research Department (LRD) for the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC).
July 2021
This report analyses ONS data to examine Scotland’s low-carbon economy. It finds that employment in Scotland’s low-carbon and renewable energy economy (LCRE) flatlined between 2014 and 2018. Despite past promises of 130,000 jobs by 2020, direct employment in 2018 was 23,100, down from 23,400 in 2014. By looking at imports and exports data, the report concludes that a trade deficit and a sector dominated by private and overseas interests are the primary reason behind this lack of employment.
June 2020
On the 24th of January 2024, the Scottish Government led debate on their motion about investing in the green economy, including the importance of public investment.
April 2024
On 17 January, Crown Estate Scotland announced the outcome of its application process for ScotWind Leasing, with 17 projects awarded option agreements. The 17 projects have a potential total capacity of almost 25 GW of offshore wind - both floating and fixed. Transition Economics has analysed the ownership and jobs potential outcomes of ScotWind lease round.
January 2022
The STUC report is based on six focus groups which were held with union members in distribution, retail, hospitality and the creative industries as well as with activists from the Better than Zero campaign and members of the STUC’s black workers, youth, and women’s committees. The report provides an insight into the way these members see their work and the impacts on their lives. It confirms some of the views held within the movement and wider society about the nature and impact of insecure work, but it also challenges some pre-conceptions. The report offers recommendations for both trade unions and policy makers in meeting the challenge of organising and legislating to increase security and build workers’ power.
October 2019
This briefing looks at the relationship between collective bargaining and inclusive growth. It considers the relationship historically (in the UK) and geographically (across OECD countries) and explores potential drivers of this relationship. It recommends that the Scottish Government should prioritise actions to increase trade union membership and collective bargaining coverage. In the short term it is therefore important to have a Government indicator relating to collective bargaining coverage within the National Performance Framework.
February 2018
Scotland’s adult social care workforce makes up approximately 8% of all Scottish employment or one in 13 jobs. Yet this low-paid, predominantly female workforce is increasingly undervalued. This report shows that, in recent years, pay has fallen, staff turnover has increased, and the workforce has shrunk.
April 2023
This Charter, which updates the existing joint STUC and Volunteer Scotland Charter, sets out clear and unambiguous principles for assuring volunteer legitimacy and preventing exploitation.
February 2019
The UK’s Minimum Wage laws allow workers to be paid less based on their age, even if their job, skills, and experience match those of colleagues. This study, based on a survey of 100 people working in care homes, bars and restaurants, retail, the postal service, local authorities, fast food outlets, call centres and cinemas, examines the reality of live for young workers paid the minimum wage.
April 2019
STUC report looking at what has happened to real wages in Scotland in the two years. The research, which includes analysis by sector, shows that the average worker is more than £1400 worse-off due to pay not keeping up with inflation.
September 2023
