Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic our Local Government, School and Council workers have continued to work tirelessly to keep the country going, working above and beyond the call of duty, putting themselves and their families at risk to support the effort against Covid-19. Council employees have been offered what the Local Government Association describes as a 'full and final' pay increase of at least 1,925 from 1 April 2023. The more people who join GMB, the stronger we are! Further details of pay scales will be issued shortly. This includes 1 billion of new grant funding in 2023-24 and 1.7 billion in 2024-25, further flexibility on council tax, and savings from delaying the rollout of adult social care charging reforms. A pay ballot on the offer will start soon. An. Over 100,000 plus GMB members across Local Authorities, Councils, Schools and Academies in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland were included, so it going to take some time to collate all the results and determine next steps. Following the pay offer which falls short of our pay claim we need a much stronger message to government, so we have written to the employers calling specifically for them to join us and call for more funding for local government pay. The pay negotiations will also be influenced by shifting government policy. 2022/23 Local Government & Schools Pay offer is for one year and it is as follows: With effect from 1 April 2022, an increase of 1,925 on all NJC pay points 1 and above. A debt limit increase under unified Democratic government in 2010 even included the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, a fiscally responsible piece of legislation serving as a backstop to deficit increases caused by Congress that, unfortunately, has never been allowed to go into effect. Scottish authorities are to receive an extra 100m funding in a last-minute addition to Holyrood's Budget. Its not just GMB that is shouting about this. Government and your employers need to understand that you simply cant be expected to accept further below inflation pay awards and we will need to send a message that unless they table a decent rise, our members will not accept it. Thank you for your letter of 18 October to the former Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Rt Hon Simon Clarke MP, about local government spending. Housing & Communities I would like to express my sincere apologies for the delay in response to both your letter and the letter sent from the National Employers. GMB union met with the Local Government employers on Wednesday 13th October 2021. Unions previously said the negotiations had reached a deadlock after the government initially offered no increase.. The measure will hit lower paid workers hard and should be scrapped. c/o UNISON Centre Unions representing hundreds of thousands of local government workers have rejected a 1.5% pay offer, describing it as "insulting" to staff who worked hard to keep vital services running throughout the coronavirus pandemic. GMB is campaigning for pay to be properly funded. Organise a meeting to discuss pay and to build support for the pay rise using our campaign resources. To discuss pay and to build support for the pay rise. You will be aware that the employers made a pay offer of 1.5% for 2021. The employers 1.75% offer is wholly inadequate and with energy bills skyrocketing, shopping bills going up, and inflation high and rising, it represents yet another pay cut for workers who have seen a quarter of the value of their pay wiped out since 2010. In addition, your National Local Government and Schools Committees will meet in the New Year to discuss what steps we take in this pay campaign. Following a review of our capital budgets, general capital funding for local government for 2022-23 will be set at 150m. "Pay from 2021 is being backdated to last April. The dispute between unions and councils comes as National Insurance payments are set to rise from next April, with the UK. Default is not an option. GMB have asked National Joint Council (NJC) national employers across Local Government, Councils and Schools to join with the trade unions and make a joint approach to the Westminster Government, for more funding for Local Government pay. Employers need to support employees to take steps to look after their wellbeing during their period of working from home. Your GMB regions will now be analysing all the results with their Local Government and School Trade Union Representatives to discuss what happens next. Not had a vote contact publicservices@gmb.org.uk, The indicative ballot closes at 12 noon on Monday 13TH December 2021, and the result will be posted on the GMB website as soon as possible thereafter, along with notification to all members. Its a scandal that people doing some of the most important jobs in our society are dealing with this cost-of-living crisis whilst living with chronically low pay. Multiplier tables. GMB is determined to do something about that. As such, for you to be facing a pay rise that is significantly below inflation is not acceptable and we are concerned that your commitment to the job and to the people you support every day is simply being taken for granted. The three trade unions in their response rejecting the pay offer of 1.75% from 1 April 2021, asked the National Employers to consider re-opening the negotiations to seek an improvement. Your local GMB branch/office should have contacted you to discuss how you can vote in this ballot and how you can get active in your pay campaign to stop these pay cuts. The detail in the unions' claim cites an RPI figure of 10.7 per cent, which is the current annual forecast for RPI in 2023, published in November 2022 by the Office for Budget Responsibility. Information and resources to support bargaining and campaigns, Access hundreds of different learning opportunities as part of your GMB membership, See the latest training, guides, and resources for GMB reps, See all the latest information and guidance from your union, Find out more and get involved inon our campaignto make schools safe, Fighting for Amazon workers across the country, The campaign for apay rise for local government and school workers. There was also a separate conditions claim. Local employers will be contacted immediately and advised to implement the pay offer. Please stand with our members. 2 Marsham Street By Jessica Hill. We recognise that local government is facing a range of inflationary pressures including those relating to pay. A commitment to ensure adult social care workers receive at least the Real Living Wage of 9.50 an hour has been agreed with COSLA. (additional copies for HR Director and Finance Director) Furthermore, the 1.75% increase offered to youth and community workers covering the period from September 2021 to August 2022 has not yet been accepted by Jim Kennedy, national officer for the local authorities sector at Unite, on behalf of youth and community workers. Unite's local government members will stage targeted industrial action at councils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in March, after rejecting a 1.75 per cent pay offer in a ballot of more than 300 local authorities. Taxes for the NHS and social care should be raised from other sources better able to pay. You are right that local government staff are a vital part of our national infrastructure providing services that everyone relies on and protecting some of the most vulnerable in our society. And the response was to accept the pay offer. Organise a meeting to discuss pay and to build support for the pay ballot using our campaign resources. Three local government unions have today (Monday) submitted a pay claim for 2021/22, which they say begin s to redress a decade of cuts and recognise s the key role played in the pandemic by school and council staff. London NW1 2AY. IN GMB ALL MEMBERS HAVE A SAY ON THEIR PAY SO MAKE SURE DETAILS ARE UP TO DATE, GMB 2020, all rights reserved Wilko bosses should hang their heads in shame. My sincere thanks for taking the trouble to make me aware of these concerns. Pay is ultimately a decision for local councils. 1 Horse Guards Road, Workers across Local Authorities, Schools and Academies deserve better. The National Joint Council negotiates the pay, terms and conditions of staff in local authorities. GMB CoronavirusHub resources can be found at here. Local government pay is negotiated between the National Joint Councils employer and union representatives. (See table 5.) Local government services pay agreement 2021-2022 Employers' Secretary Naomi Cooke Address for correspondence Local Government Association 18 Smith Square London SW1P 3HZ Tel: 020 7664. The final pay claim, as agreed by all three unions, and which has now been submitted is: A headlineclaimof an increase of 2,000 on each pay point, or of the current RPI rate, whichever is the greater, Review of term time only contracts and consideration of retainers, Reduction in the working week (without loss of pay) to 35 hours (34 in London), One additional day of annual leave across the board, Introduction of a home working allowance for all staff who are working from home, A national minimum agreement on homeworking policies for all councils, A separate urgent review of all mileage rates currently applying. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic our Local Government, School and Council workers have continued to work tirelessly to keep the country going, working above and beyond the call of duty, putting themselves and their families at risk to support the effort against Covid-19. As you are aware, GMB members rejected the 1.75% offer although on a turn out significantly below that required to give us any confidence that we could win a ballot for industrial action. The vote has therefore carried and employers have now been notified. Then in May, local government employers made a pay offer of 1.5% to council and school staff. This equates to 10.50% for SCP1 and no less than 4.04% for SCP43. An indicative industrial action ballot has started. The pandemic has shown us how much the country needs our hard-pressed, public service heroes and how much GMB members care, so passionately, about what they do. NJC for Local Government Services Secretary of State Department for Levelling Up, Circular 09/2021 FEMPI Pay Restoration 1 July 2021. If you and your colleagues want a GMB campaign in your workplace to improve your terms and conditions, pleasecontactyour local GMB Representative. In the recent GMB 2022/23 pay consultation, 67% of members voted to accept the pay offer. We represent over 500,000 working people. The supplemental appropriations measure, known as House Bill 14, included an 8.7% pay increase on top of the 7.5% that was approved last year. They are the people collecting our bins and sweeping our streets in all weathers, educating and looking after our children, taking care of our elderly, sick, and most vulnerable, and doing all the other countless, crucial jobs for the public. Recruit a member - Strength in numbers! After a decade of funding and pay cuts, you and your colleagues across local councils, schools and essential services are fighting the crisis of a generation as key workers protecting the public from Covid-19. I understand that the National Joint Council has reached agreement on the Local Government Services pay offer for 2022-23. Payments will be slightly affected by the national insurance rise. - You can download all the campaign materials at the hub. The three big unions - Unison, GMB and Unite - tabled their pay claim for last year on 15 February 2021, which was much later than in previous years, when claims were usually lodged before Christmas. "For the lowest paid (currently earning 20,441 per annum), the offer equates to an increase of 9.42. Jon Richards, Rehana Azam, Jim Kennedy It sets out the parameters for pay increases for staff pay remits and senior appointments and applies to public bodies with settlement dates in the year between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022 (inclusive). This would be payable from 1 April 2021. Message a friend on Facebook, Twitter or WhatsApp, 2. Inner London Pay Spine From 1 April 2021 an increase of 2.75% on point 1 and 1.75% on all other points rounded up to the multiple of 3. Unions representing 750,000 council and school support staff across England, Wales and Northern Ireland today (Friday) criticised the 1.5% pay offer made by the Local Government Association GMB, Unite and Unison submitted a joint pay claim to the local government employers in February for a 10% pay rise. Separate guidance applies to councils in Wales and Northern Ireland. Unison had recommended its members oppose local government employers' 'full and final' offer for the pay period from April 2021 to March 2022, which offered most staff a 1.75% increase and those on the lowest pay a 2.75% rise. Full details of the letters can be read below: Remember union strength is in its numbers so the more people who join GMB, the stronger we are to make a real difference in your work. Local Government employers have only tabled a 1.75% pay offer. The success of busting the pay freeze was down to members coming together to campaign for pay justice - we need you to do this again. Although the sums involved in this are largely negligible (for example an employee on 20k per year would lose only 4.38 of the back pay), we strongly believe that you have waited long enough and should get every penny owed. The real problem is the impact of the rise in the long term. Young people and apprentices on the National Minimum Wage will also see a boost to their wages. Although the costs involved in this are negligible (for example, an employee on 20,000 PA would lose 4.38) we believe that you should get every penny of what a low award is and have been pushing to ensure that you get it. At the Autumn Statement on 17 November 2022, the Chancellor announced an historic increase in funding for social care, making available an additional 2.8 billion in 2023-24 and 4.7 billion in 2024-25. Public sector pay rise pledge expected to 'set tone' of future pay negotiations | Local Government Chronicle (LGC) EMAP Publishing Limited Company number 7880758 (England & Wales) Registered address: 10th Floor, Southern House, Wellesley Grove, Croydon, CR0 1XG We use cookies to personalize and improve your experience on our site. The 2022/23 Local Government & Schools Pay offer is for one year and is as follows: With effect from 1 April 2022, an increase of 1,925 on all NJC pay points 1 and above (FTE). As a result of this position, we have held a meeting of the GMB NJC committee with a view of getting a way forward. The more people who join GMB, the stronger we can make your work better, Organise a workplace meeting or email us and we will organise one at publicservices@gmb.org.uk. By comparison, most council social workers in England are expected to get a 1.75% pay increase for 2021-22, though unions are still in dispute with the National Employers for local government services over their pay offer. To promote our Local Government Survey, we've produced these posters for your local workplacenoticeboards: This has been a difficult year for workers across local government. With the increasing prices and the cost of living rising to an all-time high, this failure is hitting hard. Once we have these, we will be able to update you further. GMB senior reps are disappointed that the Local Government employers have only tabled a 1.75% pay offer which is a pay cut in real terms. The employers also propose that the NJC begins immediate exploratory discussions on three other elements of your claim, as follows: There was no support from councils for the offer to include three other elements of your claim, therefore the employers reject the following. Thank you to all GMB members for taking the time to vote in the recent Indicative Industrial Action Ballot. Your participation really matters. Not a GMB member? "All options for meeting the [national living wage] challenge will lead to increased costs to councils and as a result will divert money away from other critical pay issues including those high up councils agenda such as local government workforce capacity," she said. The claim was for a 10% pay increase for local government workers. GMBs priority isto make sure your workplace is safe so please do get in touch if you are worried about lack of safety measures at work. This article is more than 1 year old. Update your details every GMB member will get their vote make sure your details are up to date. . By Jim Dunton. SW1P 4DF, Rachel Harrison Thanks so much to all of you that took the time to vote. GMBs priority is to make sure your workplace is safe so please do get in touch if you are worried about lack of safety measures at work - publicservices@gmb.org.uk, 2. We would like to thank all members who took the time to vote and for the hard work of all the reps and branches in keeping members informed and working so hard to get the ballot out. Weve made this easy to do by filling in the form on the Pay Justice Nowsite! The National Employers is advising councils very strongly against implementing the pay offer before the collective bargaining process has concluded, as it leaves councils vulnerable to questions being asked by auditors as to why expenditure has been unnecessarily incurred in the absence of a national collective agreement. It agrees an annual uplift to the national pay spine, on which each individual council decides where to place its employees. Ms Cooke explained that current government pay policy has less clarity than previously, with remits for pay review bodies making reference to affordability and consistency with private sector pay increases'. The joint union NJC Pay Claim for 2022 has now been submitted to employers for their consideration. Whilst voting in this ballot was set against an unprecedented time with members fighting Covid-19 and keeping communities' safe turnout was the best it could be under these circumstances. The National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services has agreed the new rate of pay (an increase of 1.75%) applicable from 1 April 2021. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU VOTE GMB IS CAMPAIGNING FOR A HUGE TURNOUT TO DEMONSTRATE TO YOUR EMPLOYERS WE WONT ACCEPT FURTHER PAY CUTS. Not a GMB member? (Approximately 1 million workers plus are covered). Update your details every GMB member will get their vote make sure your details are up to date. However, the turnout did not meet the legal threshold required to take industrial action on a national level although a number of branches across the country have demonstrated the level of support which does give us a range of options to escalate the dispute if further talks are not successful. Prices are skyrocketing, with inflation about to hit 10%. London, The Government remains committed to tackling low pay. FAO: Local Government, Council and School workers across England, Wales, & Northern Ireland. All results are being analysed by regional teams toidentifypotential local campaigning targets outside of this national pay claim. Unite's local government staff have voted overwhelmingly in a consultative ballot to reject the 'insulting' pay offer of 1.75 per cent and are supportive of taking industrial action for pay justice.. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Our members have made a huge contribution to keep public services running during the continuing Covid crisis. I wish to put on record again my gratitude to public sector workers in Scotland for their response to the pandemic and . Frontline staff dont need more clapping ora badge they need a proper pay increase, We're campaigning to fix social care, organising for betterpay & conditionsand fighting for full sick pay. FAO: Members in England, Wales, & Northern Ireland. 22 Stephenson Way London Public sector workers and the people of our country deserve better. "Council employees have been offered a pay increase of at least 1,925 from 1 April 2023. HB14 also provides a $2-per-hour shift differential . "That's why the chancellor must free up the funds in the spring statement for an above-inflation rise for all staff. GMB, alongside other unions formally wrote to the employers to lodge an official paydisputefor the 2021/22 pay round. Please see latest agreed Local Government NJC Circulars | GMB. NW1 2HD. It was barely above inflation a year ago. However, in a letter recently received on 18th May, 2020 the LGA Board made up of councillors have informed us they will not be approaching the government for any more resources to award to employees in recognition of their response to the COVID-19 emergency. Wed 21 Jul 2021 04.00 EDT Last modified on Fri 23 Jul 2021 06.45 EDT Rt Hon Simon Clarke MP An agreement on a best practice national programme of mental health support for all local authorities and school staff. GMB is campaigning for pay rises to be properly funded. Otherwise, local government and education employees will quit for sectors paying better rates.". 27 Jul 2021 Council employees have been offered an improved pay increase. . The LGA is strongly encouraging all councils to ensure they are represented at regional meetings taking place throughout this month, organised by the National Employers which negotiates local government pay on behalf of councils, to understand the difficult choices it is facing. 12 January 2021. The more people who join GMB, the stronger we can make your work better. Over the last year GMB members working in councils, local authorities and local government have shown how indispensable you are. FAO: England, Wales, & Northern Ireland. This contrasts with the minimum 10% rise which the unions submitted in a joint pay claim for last year. Look out for more details soon. The public deserve better too. VIDEO: Latest information on the pay offer and GMB campaign. This means all members will now get a vote to decide on whether to take strike action to stop these pay cuts. Mary Turner House GMB members working in local government and school & academies that follow National Joint Council (NJC Green Book) pay, terms and conditions across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, have received a pay offer today. The delay in getting the pay rise out to employees is being blamed on union procedures. You have more responsibility and stress than ever before, but your pay continues to stagnate. A reduction of the working week to 35 hours with no loss of pay, and a reduction to 34 hours a week in London. It's a woeful pay offer. We are grateful for all of their important work and focus over a difficult year. Pay is ultimately an issue for local councils, and it is the responsibility of employers to make an assessment on what is affordable within the overall available resources. Your local GMB branch/office will be contacting you shortly to discuss how you can vote in this consultative ballot and how you can get active in your pay campaign. The employers declined to do this and today made the following full and final offer in response to our pay claim: Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary, said: School staff, refuse collectors and council workers have kept our country moving through the coronavirus crisis, often putting themselves in harm's way. The cost of filling up a car is at record levels. Under the claim, the pay of the lowest paid workers would go above 10 per hour - lifting them above the real living wage of 9.50 per hour (outside London). If the majority of GMB members vote YES, a formal ballot for industrial action will take place. 1. Published 28 February 2022. The government's '3% pay rise' is a cut in real terms for nurses. Those discussions have now started for pay in 2021/22. We have been notified that the pay award from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 of a 1.75% increase has been agreed by the GMB and UNISON. Unison head of local government Mike Short said: "The unions tried hard to raise the level of last year's pay offer. "That's why the chancellor must free up the funds in the spring statement for an above-inflation rise for all staff. In GMB, all members have their say on pay. The Government continues to work closely with the sector to understand the pressures that local authorities are facing across their services. Long Term Financial Plans to refer to the Office of Local Government's Integrated Planning and Reporting Manual for . This could either mean continuing to seek further talks with the employers or moving to an Industrial Action Ballot campaign. The National Employers have today made the following one-year offer to the unions representing the main local government NJC workforce: With effect from 1 April 2021, an increase of 1.50. I am writing to update you on the work we have been doing on your behalf on the local government national pay negotiations for 2021. At a time of rising inflation, high energy costs and increased mortgage and rent payments our members deserve a fully funded, inflation linked pay rise. We have continued to press for further talks and an improved pay offer. (Separate advice is in place for Wales and Northern Ireland). Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 4.8 percent for the 12-month period ending in December 2022, compared with an increase of 2.6 percent in December 2021. Make sure all your membership contact details are up to date. Also, keep any eye on the following link where regular updates will be posted GMB Workplace Noticeboards. This includes: The latest NJC circular focuses on the Governments announcement on working from home across England only. 350,000 Government employees are set to receive general pay increases of 2% over the lifetime of the new two-year public service agreement, with the potential of a further 1% under new sectoral . 2022/23 Local Government & Schools Pay offer is for one year and it is as follows: The employers have already agreed to complete the work of the joint term-time only review group and have begun discussions on homeworking policies but are not prepared to discuss a homeworking allowance. 2021 General Schedule (GS) Locality Pay Tables. All ofthe results were collated and considered by your GMB teams of Officers and Reps and the GMBs National Local Government and Schools Committees. Recruit a member - Strength in numbers! The success of busting the pay freeze was down to members coming together to take an active role in campaigning for pay justice and we need your help again in achieving this. Please note the following and the need for employers to work with union reps locally: As restrictions have been lifted across England, we need to ensure all updated risk assessments are in place. GMBwill meet with the other recognised unions (Unison & Unite) on Tuesday 1st November 2022 and notify them and the employers of our result. In terms of the result, we understand that the costs of living crisis is having a major impact and we are looking for the employers to recognise this. Ms Cooke spoke of the continuing challenge that we face in ensuring that the [National Joint Council] pay spine is able to absorb the impact of significant annual increases to the national living wage. In the last GMB update we advised you that we have approached Local Government employers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland setting out our disappointment on the pay offer and asked it to be improved. Because of the employers refusal to increase the offer, coupled with the increase in National Insurance contributions which is due on 1st April 2022, we have pushed for the offer to be agreed in order to ensure that members get the back pay in March as opposed to losing some in extra tax by paying this in April. National Employers for local government services, To: Chief Executives in England, Wales and N Ireland Fry Building We put all Local Government, Councils, Schools and Academies Pay updates covered by the NJC on the GMB website, so please visit www.gmb.org.uk to find out the latest. GMB joint Local Government and Schools Committee representatives have discussed the pay offer and are recommending you vote to REJECT the offer. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Council employees have been offered an improved pay increase which will add 328m to the local government pay bill. GMB is disappointed that the pay offer doesnt reflect the pay claim and have made strong representation to your employers for months that the pay offer falls short of expectations. 22 Stephenson Way London Therefore, to meet the pay element of the claim in full (12.7 per cent) would increase local government's national paybill by more than 2.1bn. The increase is 2.75% on all pay points applicable from 01 April 2020. Become a workplace organiser - step up to be your work colleagues voice in your workplace! 2021 Government, Councils & Schools Pay offer is as follows: The employers have also agreed to joint discussions on the following: GMB expressed dismay at the opening offer of 1.5% tabled by your employers earlier this year.