The National Employers for local government services (National Employers) has offered council workers a pay increase of £1,925 from 1 April 2022, but unions have said it is “not enough” to reduce the effects of the cost-of-living crisis for employees.
The pay offer was announced on 25 July and applies to the 350 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which the National Employers negotiate pay on behalf of.
According to the Local Government Association, the pay offer will affect around 1.5m employees and equates to an increase of 10.5% for the lowest paid council staff.
Mike Short, head of education and local government at union Unison, said: “This offer is better than employees might have expected, given the low pay rises of recent years.
“It shows local government employers are beginning to understand the financial nightmare school and council staff are living through.
“But it’s not enough to make up for a decade and more of lost wages.”
Clare Keogh, national officer at union Unite, called the pay offer a “pay cut dressed up as a pay increase”.
She said: “The cost-of-living crisis is hitting council workers hard, many already can’t afford to make ends meet, spiralling food costs and energy bills will more than swallow the pay offer being proposed.”
Rehana Azam, national secretary at union GMB, said: “Now, like everyone else, they’re [council employees] being pushed to the brink by the cost-of-living crisis.
“Whilst real terms pay cuts risk exacerbating the staffing crisis, we recognise this is an offer that warrants further scrutiny so we can assess its impact on our members.”
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