As of late on Wednesday 1 November, the Local Government Association sent the letter below to local government employers, including West Sussex County Council. The letter explains that the NJC Pay dispute for 2023-24 has now been settled by the unions. Therefore, employers have been instructed to implement the pay offer as set out in the circular, the details of which you can read below. The main element of the pay settlement is the £1,925 lump sum UNISON balloted its members on (which is a pro rata lump sum, so you receive less proportionately if you work less than 37 hours per week and/or you work Term Time Only).
This means that our NJC employers in West Sussex will pay the award – with arrears – in the December pay packet. December’s pay will come earlier than normal due to Christmas, so will be paid on Tuesday 19 December. The lump sum in arrears will be for the 8 months from April to November 2023, which is circa £1,200 (pro rata, as explained above). December’s pay packet will also be uplifted by circa £150 (pro rata) as will pay in January, February and March and thereafter into future financial years.
UNISON will now turn promptly to negotiations for our pay rise from April 2024.
All the above figures quoted are subject to usual deductions: Tax, National Insurance and your Pension contributions.
We are pleased this matter is finally settled and thank all members for their patience and participation.
If you are on West Sussex County Council local pay, WSCC is now finalising arrangements to make the relevant award to its staff on those local pay scales (AfC, HAY, SMG etc).
If you are in receipt of Universal Credit and would like advice on the potential impact of pay in arrears, please contact the branch on 01243 777636 or office.unison@westsussex.gov.uk