‘Chronic’ low pay as millions sit in reserves and new executive earns bumper wage
Staff at a Scottish animal welfare charity will take strike action in a dispute over a real terms pay cut and years of ‘chronic low pay’.
24-hour strike action is set to take place on 5 November after no breakthrough in talks with the SSPCA.
Unite members overwhelmingly backed strike action after rejecting a two year pay offer which amounts to a significant real terms pay cut.
In 2025, the offer on average amounts to around 1.6 per cent with some members having their pay frozen.
A one-off payment has been tabled worth around two per cent. In 2026, only a two per cent offer has been tabled. The broader cost of inflation has just hit 4.5 per cent in September.
The SSPCA after just one year of being a living wage employer is also planning to end this development.
The SSPCA has two main workplaces those being its headquarters in Dunfermline and at Cardonald, Glasgow.
Unite’s members at the SSPCA look after the feeding, cleaning, and general health of animals. This includes the veterinary team, animal rescue workers, inspectors who deal with animal neglect and enforce entry to rescue animals, along with helpline workers who deal with calls from the public.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Unite’s members simply have no other option but to take a stand against years of chronic low pay. The SSPCA workers are dedicated to their jobs but they deserve a fair pay deal not a real terms pay cut which forces them further into poverty.
“We will support our members all the way in their fight to secure better jobs, pay and conditions at the SSPCA.”
Unite is highlighting that despite years of low pay for the SSPCA workers the new chief executive, Mark Bishop, is reported to earn a pay package of over £100,000 year. At 31 December 2024, the SSPCA’s unrestricted income funds amounted to £39.34m.
Unite’s members are raising wider concerns about increased workloads and understaffing at the SSPCA which are impacting on staff morale.
Billy Thomson, Unite industrial officer, said: “Unite’s members at the SSPCA have to take this action because their employer will not reward them with a decent pay rise. The SSPCA seem to have no issue giving their new chief executive a bumper pay award while also sitting on tens of millions in reserves.
“The workers feel utterly let down and undervalued by their employer. We would urge the SSPCA to use this time before strike action to get back round the table and make an improved offer. It's up to them whether they want this action to go ahead.”
In a statement, SSPCA said: "We can confirm that following a formal ballot by Unite the Union, 62 out of 139 members have voted in favour of strike action. That equates to 14% of our paid workforce. The total number of helping hands, including volunteers, is 1,342, so 19 out of 20 did not choose strike action.
"We have engaged openly and constructively throughout the consultation process and put forward a pay offer we believe is fair, responsible and reflective of the financial pressures the Scottish SPCA is currently managing.
"Animal welfare remains our number one priority, our helpline remains open and we will continue to care for animals across Scotland with plans in place to ensure we still deliver our essential services during this period. We are deeply grateful for the continued support in our vision to make Scotland the best place in the world for an animal to call home."
