Local government trade union members have rejected a pay increase offer for 2023/24 – meaning that unions will now move to industrial action ballots.
Members of unions GMB and Unite in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have voted to reject the pay offer to increase salaries by at least £1,925 for 2023/24.
Last week, GMB reported that 64% of its members voted to reject the pay offer, while Unite announced that 75% of its members rejected the proposal.
In February, the National Employers for local government services – which negotiates pay on behalf of 350 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – put forward the pay offer, which equates to a 9.42% pay rise for the lowest-paid workers and a 3.88% increase for staff on higher salaries.
Strike action
The rejection of the pay offer for 2023/24 means that unless negotiations are reopened, both GMB and Unite will move to industrial action ballots.
Trade union Unison is recommending that its members reject the pay offer and has moved straight to industrial action, with its strike ballot expected to take place at the end of May 2023.
Sharon Wilde, GMB’s national officer, said: “GMB members across England, Wales and Northern Ireland have voted to reject the NJC pay offer for this year.
“We now call on the Local Government Association (LGA) to return to the table and make an improved offer that recognises the true value of our members working in our schools and across our councils.
“We will also be calling on central government to provide additional funding to allow employers and schools to pay more and invest in their workforce.
“If negotiations aren’t reopened and a revised offer made, we will move to industrial action ballots in some areas.”
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Unite stated that a full industrial action ballot for its members would begin before the end of this month. If members vote for industrial action, strikes could begin before the end of July.
Clare Keogh, Unite’s national officer, said: “Council leaders need to wake up and be aware they are facing a summer of strikes unless local government employers return to the negotiating table and propose a vastly improved pay offer.”
We will be calling on central government to provide additional funding to allow employers and schools to pay more and invest in their workforce. If negotiations aren’t reopened and a revised offer made, we will move to industrial action ballots in some areas.
‘Erosion of pay’
Union Unite highlighted that council employees have already faced a “decade of real terms pay cuts” and, with inflation standing at 13.5% (retail price index), the current pay offer will equate to a further reduction in salaries.
Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, said: “Our members undertake vital frontline roles that ensure that local communities are well maintained, safe and attractive places to live, they have now drawn a line in the sand and will not accept any further erosion of their pay.”
Jason Poulter, Unite’s national officer for local government craftworkers, added: “The employers’ lack of engagement with the unions has, frankly, been disdainful. They spent barely 48 hours considering the unions detailed pay claim.
“This dispute will not be resolved until employers engage in proper consultation with unions.”
The move to industrial action contrasts with last year, when local government trade unions accepted the national employers’ pay offer for 2022/23, which at the time equated to a 10.5% increase for the lowest-paid workers.
Chief officers’ pay award
The rejection of the offer also comes as the LGA announced last week that an agreement has now been reached on the pay award applicable to chief officers of local authorities.
The pay agreement means that individual chief officers’ salaries should be increased by 3.5% from 1 April 2023.
The employers’ lack of engagement with the unions has, frankly, been disdainful. They spent barely 48 hours considering the unions detailed pay claim.
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