In contrast to Higher Education employers who have just offered their staff 2% and a minimum pay point of the Living Wage (£7.65), Local Government employers are offering 1% and a minimum pay point of £6.75, just 25 pence more than the recently announced National Minimum Wage. This would leave 500,000 Local Government and school support staff earning less than the Living Wage.
UNISON branches up and down the country have been conducting consultative pay ballots to see what members on NJC pay think about the 1% offer. This is likely to be a prelude to a formal postal ballot for industrial action, with a recommendation from the union that members support a YES vote for industrial action.
UNISON West Sussex has now concluded its consultative ballot, and the results are:
ACCEPT: 19%
REJECT: 81%
Thanks go to Branch members for participating in the vote. The UNISON NJC Committee will meet on 24th April to consider the aggregate results and next steps in the pay dispute. If a formal ballot follows, this will be held during May.