The GMB pay ballot covered all workers across local government, school & academies that follow National Joint Council (NJC Green Book) pay, terms and conditions across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
National Local Government (NJC) employers have now made their pay offer for 2023/24.
The recognised Unions (GMB, Unison & Unite) submitted a pay claim for:
- An increase of RPI + 2% on all spinal column points
- Consideration of a flat rate increase to hourly rates of pay in order to bring the minimum rate up to £15 per hour within two years
- A review and improvement of NJC terms for family leave and pay
- A review of job evaluation outcomes for school staff whose day to day work includes working on Special Educational Needs (SEN)
- An additional day of annual leave for personal or well-being purposes
- A homeworking allowance for staff for whom it is a requirement to work from home
- A reduction in the working week by two hours
- A review of the pay spine, including looking at the top end, and discussions about the link between how remuneration can be used to improve retention
The offer that has now been received is for:
- A one year (1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024) pay increase of £1,925 (pro rata for part-time employees) to be paid as a consolidated, permanent addition on all NJC points 2-43 inclusive.
- An increase of 3.88% on all allowances (as listed in the 2022 NJC Pay Agreement Circular dated 1st November 2022).
In response to the other elements of the pay claim, the employers position is:
- National employers propose that exploratory ‘without prejudice’ informal discussions are undertaken to map out considerations of how and when the pay spine may be reviewed.
- To enter into discussions on the broader family leave and pay issues raised in the claim.
- A review of all school support staff role profiles to be undertaken by the Job Evaluation Technical Working Group.
Employers rejected the following elements of the pay claim:
- Consideration of a flat rate increase to a minimum rate of £15 per hour within two years.
- Establishing model role profiles for school support staff jobs, with advisory banding structures.
- A homeworking allowance for staff for whom it is a requirement to work from home.
- A reduction in the working week by two hours.
Unions will now engage further with employers on this offer. Your joint local government and schools committees will meet to discuss any final offer received before we move to a full consultation of members.
Find the latest information on the Local Government NJC “Green Book” Noticeboard.
1st February 2023
NJC PAY 2023/24 UPDATE
Thank you to all GMB members who took part in the recent survey consulting on what your aspirations were for pay this year. The results were discussed at a joint meeting of the GMB National Local Government and Schools Committees on 11th January 2023 and it was agreed that GMB would ask for the following to be included in this year’s pay claim:
- RPI +2%, or £2000 payment on SCP2-43, whichever is the greater, fully funded by government.
- Restoration of the SEN Allowance in mainstream schools.
- An additional day’s annual leave for personal / wellbeing purposes. For Term Time Only staff this equates to an additional day of leave during term time.
- A home working allowance for staff where it is a requirement for them to work from home.
The NJC Executive (GMB, Unison and Unite), met on 16th January 2023 to discuss each unions proposed pay claim. The following has been agreed for the joint union pay claim for 2023/24 and this has now been submitted to the Local Government Association.
NJC PAY CLAIM: 2023/24
- An increase of RPI+2% on all spinal column points.
In addition:
- Consideration of a flat rate increase to hourly rates of pay in order to bring the minimum rate up to £15 per hour within two years.
- A review and improvement of NJC terms for family leave and pay.
- A review of job evaluation outcomes for school staff whose day to day work includes working on Special Educational Needs (SEN).
- An additional day of annual leave for personal or well-being purposes.
- A homeworking allowance for staff from whom it is a requirement to work from home.
- A reduction in the working week by two hours.
- A review of the pay spine, including looking at the top end, and discussions about the link between how remuneration can be used to improve retention.
You can request a copy of the detailed pay claim from your local GMB Representative.
Employers will now be briefed on the joint union pay claim and we expect pay negotiations to commence before the end of February. Further updates will follow in due course.
You can also find information about the campaign for a properly funded pay rise for local government and school workers by clicking here to visit the main GMB campaign page.
Posted: 28th February 2023