Despite the current uncertainty in British politics, Prospect and the other civil service unions were able to hold their annual meeting with the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon at Bute House at the end of October.

Prospect national secretary Richard Hardy said: "It's clearly an indication of the commitment of the First Minister and the Scottish Government to positive industrial relations that the meeting went ahead."

The unions raised issues relating to:

• Brexit
• public sector pay
• extending Fair Work
• Scottish Prison Service audit and
• the change of the May Day holiday to commemorate VE Day.

"We were able to share with the First Minister our concerns about Brexit and the need to ensure that staff changes resulting from emergency preparations are as voluntary as possible.

"On public sector pay, we spoke about the need to ensure that the current split approach to pay based on salary does not continue, as we believe it sends a signal that some public servants are more deserving than others. While this was not a negotiating meeting, it was good to hear the First Minister state that 'no public servant is underserving'.

"There were positive conversations about Fair Work and how we address the change to the May Day holiday. We will continue to update members on these issues," Hardy concluded.