Following extensive consultation with our recognised trade unions and individual consultation with staff on the proposal to reduce the standard working week for Aberdeen City Council, a collective agreement has been reached between the Council and the joint trade unions to implement this change to contracts of employment for all in-scope employees with effect from 1 July 2025.
I want to give my personal thanks to the joint trade unions for their constructive contributions on behalf of their members during this time. I also want to thank every employee who provided feedback throughout the consultation, which informed the discussions and final agreement.
In summary this agreement means that from 1st July 2025:
- The full-time standard working week for Aberdeen City Council is 35 hours. An employee may be contracted for either more or less hours than the standard working week.
- Impacted staff would receive a ‘buyout’* payment rather than pay preservation – split into two annual payments
- Incremental progression applied to eligible employees on 1st April 2025 would be included in the calculation of the buyout
- Overtime rates would be enhanced for hours worked over 36 hours per week from 1st July 2026 and from 35 hours per week from 1st July 2027
- Through this agreement, pension protection can be offered
In addition, last week I confirmed a number of commitments that have been made in response to employee and trade union feedback received through the consultation.
Next Steps
All in-scope employees will be sent a letter week commencing 16th June detailing changes to contracts and individual buyout payments which are subject to eligibility**.
Buyout payments will be processed for payment in inclusion July
My thanks go to all colleagues involved for their participation over recent weeks during the consultation period, and to managers for their significant work in supporting the consultation.
If you have any questions, the answers may be contained within our Frequently Asked Questions , or please ask your line manager who will be able to help.
Alternatively, please email 35hours@aberdeencity.gov.uk.
You can also read details of the negotiated position in our previous post at – 35-hour working week update: Agreed position reached with Trade Unions
*Buyout (Tax & NIC applies) – All in-scope employees are included, and they would receive a buyout payment equivalent to 2 hours @ current (end of 2024/25) hourly rate plus the increment due to eligible employees on 1 April 2025; for 104 weeks (equivalent to 2 years); with a multiplier of “1”. The payment would be made in two equal instalments (1st payment upon contractual change applying, and 2nd payment 12 months later). The second payment would additionally be subject to a multiplier of 1.05.
** To be eligible for the buyout payment in July, you must be an employee of Aberdeen City Council on 1 July 2025 and not serving a period of contractual notice to leave the Council’s employment.
If you are eligible and received the first payment, then you would also receive the second payment even if you change roles internally in the intervening period. However, if you leave Aberdeen City Council before 1 July 2026, or are serving a period of contractual notice to leave the Council’s employment at that date, you will not be eligible for the second payment.