What is Fair Work First?
Fair Work First is an initiative by the Scottish Government that aims to encourage employers across Scotland to adopt fair working practices, including payment of the real Living Wage and providing appropriate channels for effective workers' voice, such as trade union recognition.
By promoting these principles, Fair Work First seeks to ensure that employees are treated fairly, paid appropriately, and provided with opportunities for development and progression, while also fostering a positive and inclusive working environment. You can find out more on the Fair Work First page.
"Aberdeen City Council is committed to advancing the Fair Work First criteria, including the real Living Wage and effective voice conditions."
Isla Newcombe Chief Officer People and Citizen Services
What does this look like in practice?
Effective voice conditions
Aberdeen City Council is committed to providing a wide range of appropriate channels for effective employee voice, including those cited by Scottish Government.
We have a wide variety of established and well-used corporate employee voice mechanisms at Aberdeen City Council – formal and informal, open and anonymous - so that employees can raise issues, questions or concerns at any time in a way that is safe, direct, transparent and participative with any and many employees able to join the discussion.
As a Council, we involve trade union/worker representatives in key governance and decision-making structures, including having TU colleagues as advisors at our own dedicated Staff Governance Committee. We recognise trade unions for the purpose of collective bargaining, encourage TU membership, and engage in constructive dialogue with relevant trade unions to address workplace issues.
We provide a range of alternative employee voice channels including our online employee voice platform, Viva Engage; employee surveys to enable confidential and/or anonymous feedback; and a variety of employee networks to enable cross-council collaboration and problem solving.
Payment of the real Living Wage
Aberdeen City Council is recognised as a Living Wage Accredited Employer or an All-Time Service Provider – we have an agreed pay structure which means the whole workforce is paid at least the real Living Wage. There is one exception to this, namely some 1st and 2nd year Craft Apprentices, who are paid in line with the nationally negotiated Craft Worker Agreement. In addition, we have embarked on a delivery plan of action to further the commitment of becoming a real living wage City.