NJC Pay award 2024-25 – update

UNISON calls for a pay rise of £3,000 or 10% for all local government & school workers

UNISON, GMB and Unite lodged a pay claim for all council and school workers employed on NJC pay in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Thursday 29 February 2024.

The claim calls for a substantial increase of £3,000 or 10%, whichever is the greater, on all spinal column points, from 1 April 2024.

In addition, it calls for:

  • 2 hour reduction in the working week with no detriment (from 37 to 35 hours)
  • 1 additional day of annual leave (with term time only staff also receiving a full day rather than a pro rata amount, that they can use at any time, including term time)
  • Minimum pay rate of £15 an hour in a maximum of two years, sooner if possible
  • Pay gap reviews for gender, ethnicity and disability in local government

The full claim is available to read below. The pay claim focuses on the continuing, rising cost of living and the need for a significant pay rise for all local government and school staff. The claim makes clear that poverty pay must be addressed and that a decent pay rise will have a significant impact on enabling employers to recruit and retain the staff they need.

The NJC Employers Side will be consulting councils on the pay claim throughout March 2024, before meeting initially in April and then again in May 2024 to consider their response to the trade unions. We anticipate the offer to come from the employers in May.

We will keep members updated.

Trade Union side NJC Pay claim 2024-25