Joint Unions reject Local Government Employer Sides Pay Offer

23/04/2020

As part of the NJC Pay negotiations for 2020-21, the Local Government Association, on behalf of the Employer's side made an offer of 2.75%, which the joint unions have rejected on behalf of their members.

Staff keeping vital local services running – including schools, refuse collection and child protection – during the pandemic deserve a proper pay rise, say the three unions representing council staff in England and Wales today (Thursday).

Responding to the 2.75% pay offer for 2020/21 made today by the Local Government Association (LGA), UNISON, Unite and the GMB are urging the Chancellor Rishi Sunak and other ministers to heed the call from the local government employers to fund a top up to reward council and school support staff.

A much-needed increase would ensure that social workers, teaching assistants, refuse collectors and others – who are going above and beyond during the crisis – can have a decent pay rise.

The three unions say the LGA offer – which also includes an extra day of leave for some – falls well short of their 10% claim for this year. They add that it fails to recognise the hard work of local government staff in keeping services running while the country is in lockdown.

The LGA has already asked the government to fund an additional pay increase in addition to its offer. The unions are calling for the employers to write a joint letter with them to Rishi Sunak and communities secretary Robert Jenrick, urging them to reward staff properly.

Attached are the letters that were exchanged and give more information in detail.