2025 NJC Pay Claim Branch Consultation

The UNISON NJC Committee met on 20 November 2024 to consider the contents of the NJC pay claim for 2025. This cost of living pay award is due from 1 April 2025.

The 2024 pay settlement

For NJC 2024, we submitted a claim for an increase £3,000 or 10%, whichever was the greater. The Employers offered an increase of £1,290, pro rata’d for part-time and term time only workers. As members know, that offer was ultimately accepted and implemented because we did not get over 50% strike thresholds in enough branches – but UNISON made clear that formal acceptance of the offer did not indicate that members were satisfied with it.

The NJC Committee is therefore proposing that our claim for 2025 should seek an increase that is above inflation, addresses the particular continuing challenges for those towards the bottom end of the pay spine, and enables members to begin to recover the loss of the real terms value of their pay that has occurred over the last decade.

The 2025 pay claim – proposed headlines

The NJC Committee proposes that the 2025 pay claim is for an increase of £3,000 on all pay points, along with a clear ‘roadmap’ to reach a minimum pay rate of £15 an hour.

UNISON members in councils and schools continue to experience a significant cost of living crisis, with food, heating and transport costs continuing to increase. While headline inflation figures have fallen, RPI inflation, the inflation measure which UNISON believes is the most accurate reflection of the spending realities our members face, is currently at 3.4% and is forecast to be at an average of 3.6% over 2025. Meanwhile, we know that on average, members have lost more than a quarter of the real terms value of their pay since 2010.

The NJC Committee is therefore proposing a claim for £3,000 on all pay points, which is above inflation, to ensure the real value of members’ pay does not fall further behind, and begins to catch up on the years of lost earnings.

The claim for a clear move towards a £15 an hour hourly rate is in line with policy agreed at UNISON’s Local Government Conference. Local government pay towards the bottom end is in clear need of a ‘reset’, so that staff are properly rewarded for their work and employers can recruit and retain staff.

The West Sussex branch would like the views of our members on this proposed way forward. Please take part in our quick branch survey! (Link below)

2025 NJC Pay Claim Branch Consultation

The UNISON West Sussex branch is affiliated to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), as is the union at a national level.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign has organised a lobby day at Westminster Hall, London on Wednesday 27^th November 2-5pm.

This is an opportunity to discuss important issues with your MP around the UK’s involvement in the ongoing crisis in Palestine including:

• Ending arms sales to Israel
• The UK government calling for a ceasefire.
• Ensuring humanitarian aid reaches the Palestinian population.

Branch members who can get to London tomorrow are encouraged to use the link below to register to attend. This will then let your MP know that you would like to meet with them on the lobby day.

Lobby Day Registration: Wednesday 27th November 2024

If you are a West Sussex branch member intending to go to the Lobby Day than please let us know and we can put you in contact with members from Worthing and Adur Palestine Solidarity Campaign who will be travelling up to London by train on the day.

Branch donation

With increasing concern at the appalling humanitarian disaster underway and continuing to  unfold in Palestine and now the Lebanon, the UNISON West Sussex branch decided at its branch committee meeting in November to donate £1,500 to Medical Aid for Palestinians.

National demonstration

There is a national demonstration for Palestine in London this weekend on Saturday 30^th November, assembling at 12 noon.

For more details see: https://palestinecampaign.org/events/30-november-national-demonstration-for-palestine/

UNISON’s winter essentials grant programme offering grants of £200 towards food shopping opens Wednesday 11 December 2024.

If you’re a UNISON member on a low income, you may be eligible to apply for a £200 voucher towards your food shopping.

Applicants must:  

• Be a UNISON member and have paid at least four weeks’ subscriptions as of 11 December 2024. Subscriptions must be up to date.
• Not have received a grant from UNISON Welfare since 11 June 2024, excluding the School Uniform Grant.
• Have savings (including the total combined rolling balance on current accounts) below £1,000 to qualify.
• Must be responsible (or their partner, if applicable) for household fuel bills. Only one application per household will be considered.

And EITHER:

Be on a low income, meaning a net household income of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month)**

OR:

Be in receipt of means-tested benefits. This includes:

• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Child and/or Working Tax Credits
• Pension Credit
• Means-tested Jobseekers Allowance
• Means-tested Employment Support Allowance
• Income Support

**Where members have no recourse to public funds and their household income is above £26,000/year an assessment will be undertaken to see whether they would be eligible for benefits if they did have recourse to public funds so that they are not disadvantaged.

How do I apply?

All applications should be made online via the UNISON website. Applications will open for 24 hours from 12 noon on Wednesday 11 December. Eligible members will be chosen at random from the applicant pool and contacted to submit supporting documents.

Due to limited funds and in anticipation of high demand, we regret that we will not be able to help all members who apply.

If you are unable to complete the application due to a disability access need, please email: weg@unison.co.uk or call UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857.

What if I don’t know my membership number?

We cannot accept applications without a membership number. This can often be found at the bottom of any emails you have received from UNISON.

How will you contact me?

All applicants will receive an automated message confirming your application has been received. If this doesn’t show in your inbox, please check your junk/spam folders.

If I have recently received a grant can I apply?

If you have received a grant from UNISON Welfare since 11 June 2024, excluding the School Uniform Grant, you will not be eligible to apply for a Winter Essentials Grant.

Apply for Winter Essentials Grant here

Any questions?

Please contact us via email: weg@unison.co.uk

The branch can now report the results of UNISON’s industrial action ballot on the NJC pay offer for 2024-25.

The headlines:

• In our largest employer (the largest by far), West Sussex County Council, members voted for strike action with an 81% YES vote. However, the turnout of members who voted was 32.5%, less than the government’s mandatory participation rate of 50% for a strike ballot to be lawful;
• The branch balloted members in 53 separate employers in West Sussex (this is because some schools are treated legally as separate employers, as are all academy schools);
• We got over the government’s 50% participation thresholds in 9 employers, but these were not large employers.

When the results of over 4,000 balloted employers were analysed at a national level by the union’s elected NJC Committee of reps, it was decided there was no possibility of organising industrial action which would improve the national pay offer.

It should be noted that the Tory government’s 2016 Trade Union Act which introduced 50% thresholds is due to be abolished and it is currently expected that this provision will no longer apply by July 2025.

The NJC Committee has therefore settled the claim with the LGA Employers and the £1,290 pro rata payment is due to be paid in West Sussex in the November pay packet, with back pay also paid at that point to April 2024.

Backpay for members who have left employment since 1 April 2024

Members who have left employment of an NJC employer since 1 April 2024 are entitled to be paid back pay in arrears, and for this to be added to their local government pension, if they are a member. Members should contact WSCC Payroll to request this.

Universal Credit

Some UNISON members covered by the 2024-25 NJC pay settlement will be in receipt of Universal Credit. The pay award may result in a reduction in the amount of Universal Credit individuals receive as earnings will rise.

The April 2024 pay award is for a consolidated pay increase of £1,290 on all NJC pay points. The pay rise will not be paid as a one-off lump sum – it will be consolidated into basic pay and will be spread across twelve months.

However, the 2024 NJC pay settlement is backdated to 1 April 2024 which means that employers will also be making a one-off payment of back pay owed to their employees. In West Sussex the pay rise will be implemented in November’s pay packet (payable on 22nd November due to how the weekend falls).

This means that in November 2024 employees are likely to receive their new rate of pay, plus seven months of backpay (for April to October).

For the month in which the pay rise is implemented the amount of take-home pay will be significantly higher due to the backpay element. This may have an impact on universal credit payments in the following month/s.

As Universal Credit is based on individual members’ own, personal circumstances, UNISON does not know exactly how individual members may be affected and cannot provide advice to individuals.

We do though suggest that members in receipt of Universal Credit who think they may be impacted in this way should contact their Work Coach. Members should explain to their Work Coach that whilst there has been a pay rise that increases basic monthly income, there has also been a one-off back payment that will not form part of regular monthly income. You can contact your Work Coach online or call the Universal Credit Helpline on 0800 328 5644.

WSCC has offered to provide members impacted in this way with a letter they can give to their Work Coach, to support their request for the backpay to be discounted for purposes of Universal Credit, if this will be of assistance. Please contact WSCC Payroll for a letter.

Student loan repayments

If a member has a student loan and, if the receipt of the backpay lump sum puts the individual above the monthly repayment threshold, then a student loan repayment will be deducted from wages. However, if in the following months, wages return to below the relevant monthly repayment threshold then further student loan repayments should not be taken. At the end of the tax year if total wages for the year are below the annual student loan repayment threshold then the employee can request a refund of the student loan repayment/s that they have made.

Details on how to get a refund can be found here and information on student loans can be found here.

Please note, UNISON is not able to give personalised advice about student loan repayments. The repayment thresholds vary depending on which student loan/s the individual received.

UNISON’s NJC Committee met to consider the outcome of the consultation on the NJC pay offer. The offer is for a pay increase of £1,290 on all NJC pay points.

Full detail on the pay offer and what it means for you on your pay point is explained here.

Members working in schools and councils who are covered by NJC pay were asked in a consultative ballot to vote as to whether they accepted or rejected this pay offer.

The consultation result was that 80.77% of members voted to reject vote on a 29.09% turnout. The results for members at West Sussex County Council, for information, the largest NJC employer in the West Sussex branch, were an 85.35% Reject vote on a 30.29% turnout.

The union’s NJC Committee then asked for a consultation with branches on the next steps. They were provided with the full employer-by-employer breakdown of the consultation results. The NJC meeting considered the outcomes of both the member consultation on the pay offer and the feedback on next steps from branches.

Regional feedback showed that a majority of branches were in favour of proceeding to an industrial action ballot, to be run on a disaggregated basis meaning that only individual employers which reach the 50% ballot threshold can take part in industrial action. The Committee decided that this would not exclude employers based on turnout levels in the consultation nor on membership size. The NJC Committee agreed to launch an industrial action ballot on that basis, to try to secure an improved offer from the National Employers. 350,000 members will be balloted across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, of which circa 4,000 are in our West Sussex branch.

The ballot will run from 4 September to 16 October 2024.

The deadline for new members who join for them to be able to vote in the industrial action ballot is 3 October.

It’s important that all members who receive a postal ballot take part and vote. Look out for the purple envelope that will come to your home address.

The envelope members will receive is in UNISON purple!

The branch will be visiting the council’s large office hubs on the following dates:

• Bridge House, Worthing: Tuesday 17 September
• Parkside, Horsham: Thursday 19 September
• The Library, Crawley: Tuesday 8 October
• County Hall, Chichester: Thursday 10 October

Check out our YouTube video of a presentation Branch Secretary Dan Sartin gave on the pay offer. Feel free to share with colleagues and encourage them to join the branch ahead of the ballot starting.

Are you a UNISON member? Want to get involved with your union? Join West Sussex branch officers at a ‘Rep taster’ session, to find out more about your union branch, how we work and how you can get involved.

• Monday 11^th November; 1.00-2.00pm – Horsham: Parkside, Room 12
• Wednesday 13^th November; 1.00-2.00pm – Worthing: Bridge House, Room T14
• Thursday 21^st November; 12.00-1.00pm – Chichester: County Hall, Committee Room 1

Free sandwich lunch! To register for your space, email us at office.unison@westsussex.gov.uk making clear what venue you prefer and if you have any dietary requirements.

The deadline to book your space for all venues is Friday 8th November.

In reaction to the shocking scenes of violent public disorder which have taken place across the country; UNISON’s General Secretary, Christina McAnea says:

“We will work with other unions across the country to call for an end to violence, intimidation, and discrimination. Unity is our strength.”

The General Secretary’s full comment can be read here: Opinion: UNISON will stand up to the politics of hate | Article | News | UNISON National

The TUC have also published comment regarding the activities of groups determined to cause disruption and spread lies and division: TUC anti-far right statement | TUC

Further comment has also been made by the National TULO: Statement from National TULO on far-right and racist violence | Labour Unions which are the 11 trade unions affiliated to the Labour Party.

As a Branch we are aware of the concerns about safety that many front-line public-sector workers and activists have in the face of intimidation and the potential for further incidents. The Branch has raised a concern on this to the main employer. The Branch is assured that staff safety is paramount, and the county council is collaborating with partners across the sector, including Sussex Police, to support those communities who may be at risk should further events occur and to ensure staff safety. WSCC and UNISON find any form of racism, discrimination, and violent disorder unacceptable.

If you or a colleague have experienced a hate incident, or a crime, please report it. You can report hate incidents or crimes online and get free, confidential help if you need it. Do not accept it, report the incident, or contact the Branch for further advice and support.

Additional support is available for WSCC staff through the Employee Assistance Programme, a free and confidential service. You can access EAP for a range of services, support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year via the freephone number 0800 028 0199.

For members concerned about workplace incidents, or any health and safety concerns please contact the Branch for advice.

As relevant today as it was when originally stated by Jo Cox, tragically the victim of far-right violence;

“We have far more in common than that which divides us.”

This was my first time attending Trans Pride Brighton. On my walk to Worthing rail station a guy questioned why I was wearing pink dungarees, then shouted at me that I was a poof and a faggot. I just hurried along to catch my train, but did mull over the experience on the way to Brighton. Fortunately the rest of the day was excellent.

I treated myself to coffee on the way to Dorset Gardens, where I met some UNISON South East members, before heading down to Jubilee Square. There I met members from West Sussex branch, UNISON Kent and UNISON University of Brighton. It was difficult to hear the opening speeches due to the crowds and the speakers only had megaphones, however this didn’t detract from the great atmosphere from the crowd. Jubilee Square was absolutely buzzing with people, excited for the march ahead.

Hu Evans, right, Branch LGBT+ Officer

The march started at midday and was amazing, a large presence of people had gathered and it felt very much more like a protest march compared to recent LGBT+ Prides. In front we had drumming and behind us was a guy spurring the chanting with “What do we want ?..”, “Trans Rights!”, “When do we want it?..”, “Now!” which he then finished by yelling “ARRRRRHHH” passionately! It made everyone smile.

From Jubilee Square the route took us up North Street to the clock tower, then down West Street to the seafront and left lane of the A259. As we turned off into the Old Steine we broke off from the march as it was returning to Jubilee Square and we were heading to the UNISON South East stall in Dorset Gardens.

On the march

The UNISON stall was near the stage, which mainly featured musical performances interspersed with sections from various LGBT+/trans support groups discussing what they do and the support they offer the trans community. There was a section at 5pm, where four members from different unions gave brief speeches including Tyler from UNISON Kent who talked about the roll out of UNISON’s Trans Ally training and how it was benefiting and supported trans people.

Overall I found it a great event which felt really positive. There was a lot of positive support from current UNISON members as well as people genuinely interested in finding out more about being part of a trade union.

Heading back from Worthing station, on the same stretch of road from my earlier experience, a woman walked past me, giving me a thumbs up saying she loved my dungarees, which was quite a nice end to the day.

UNISON is attending Crawley Pride on Saturday 17 August starting at 11.00am. I’m really looking forward to it and would encourage you to join us for another great event.

Tim Halpin (left) West Sussex branch rep at Grace Eyre Foundation, and Lydia Freeman (right) Higher Education SGE member for the South East (nominated by West Sussex branch) from University of Brighton branch.

Crawley Pride takes place this year on Saturday 17 August 2024

2024 marks the fourth Crawley Pride event aiming to raise awareness of the issues facing the LGBT+ community and promote Crawley as a safe place to work and live.

The parade will be start at 11.00am from the Memorial Gardens, walking through the High Street before ending at Goffs Park at the entrance to the festival which features numerous Acts, Stalls, Family Area, Fairground and Food. Parade participants can obtain a 20% discount code to book any tickets (except VIP) in advance.

Hu Evans, UNISON West Sussex LGBT+ Officer explains why it’s important to attend Crawley Pride:

Attending Pride is a way of demonstrating our commitment to equality and building a more inclusive society. Crawley is one of the more recent pride events in West Sussex, championing LGBT+ inclusivity in the north of our county and deserves our continued support. It’s also a great day out and an opportunity to have fun.

This year for UNISON’s Year of the LGBT+ Worker, the West Sussex branch is attending Crawley Pride parade march at 11.00am on Saturday 17 August 2024. Find our UNISON West Sussex branch banner at the Memorial Gardens, Crawley, from 10:45am and say hello. We would love to see you there.

If you have any queries ahead of Crawley Pride, get in touch with us.  If you are a West Sussex branch member intending to go to Crawley Pride than please let us know.