Initial local government pay offer rejected – talks continue
The National Joint Council (NJC) Executive met today, for the employers to respond to the trade unions’ local government pay claim for 2020.
Our claim was for a new minimum rate of £10 an hour, and 10% for everybody else. We also asked for improvements in annual leave and working hours, and joint work on mental health.
The employers made an initial pay offer of a one-year deal of 2% across all pay points from 1 April.
During negotiations, UNISON’s representatives expressed huge disappointment with the opening offer. We argued that pay settlements elsewhere have been higher, and this pay offer would leave local government further behind other parts of the public sector, as well as the Government’s long-term plans for the national living wage.
Since 2010, local government workers’ pay has fallen significantly in real terms, and as a result many of our members are struggling to get by.
UNISON called on the employers to think again and make a better offer. They agreed re-convene their full negotiating body to consider the points we made, before meeting with us again for further negotiations. We urged the employers to carry out this process as quickly as possible.
We also urge all members to email their Councillors to keep the political pressure on for a better pay offer – simply copy and paste the links below.
https://action.unison.org.uk/page/47685/action/1