NJC 2024/25 Pay Ballot Now Open
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Dear Members,
The NJC Pay Ballot for 2024-25 is now open.
Please vote and have your say on pay!
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Dear Members,
The NJC Pay Ballot for 2024-25 is now open.
Please vote and have your say on pay!
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Dear Members,
The Joint Local Government and Schools Committee met today to discuss the NJC Pay Offer 2024/25 and agree the GMB position on the offer from the National Employers.
The National Joint Committees have considered the full and final offer in detail and agreed that they were disappointed with the offer, lack of meaningful negotiation and the length of time it has taken for the employers to respond to the unions pay claim. The Committee also expressed concern this offer is made without central funding from Government which means the financial responsibility will fall to local councils, employers, and schools' budgets.
The Joint Committee delegates have informed us, that GMB members are telling them that they do not want to prolong the ballot process. The Employer has put forward a full and final offer which demonstrates that the employer is not prepared to further negotiate.
The National Joint Committee have agreed not to make any recommendation on this year's offer, and they believe that the members should now decide.
The ballot timeline has been agreed and will open on Monday 3 June 2024 and close on Friday 5 July 2024 at midday.
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The National Employers (NJC) have made a full and final pay offer for 2024/25.
The recognised Unions (GMB, Unison & Unite) submitted a pay claim for:
An increase of at least £3,000 or 10% (whichever is greater) on all spinal column points.
In addition:
The offer that has now been received is for:
In response to the other elements of the pay claim, the employer’s position is:
Employers rejected the following elements of the pay claim:
Your joint Local Government and Schools Committees will meet to discuss the final offer received before we move to a full consultation of members.
More details will follow shortly.
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29th February 2024
NJC PAY CLAIM 2024/25 UPDATE
Dear GMB Members,
We want to thank everyone who participated in the recent survey regarding your aspirations were for pay this year.
The survey results were discussed at a joint meeting of the GMB National Local Government and Schools Committees on 26th February 2024. I am pleased to inform you that your feedback has been carefully considered, and it was unanimously agreed that GMB would ask for the following points to be included in this year’s pay claim:
The NJC Executive made up of representatives from GMB, Unison and Unite, met on 27th February 2024 to discuss each unions proposed pay claim. Following thorough discussions and negotiations, a headline claim that has been agreed for the joint union pay claim. This claim has now been submitted to the Local Government Association.
Employers will now be briefed on the joint union pay claim and we expect pay negotiations to commence in April. Further updates will follow in due course.
NJC PAY CLAIM: 2024/25
In addition:
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Would you like information on becoming a GMB Representative in your workplace? Email PublicServices@gmb.org.uk
Not a GMB member? Join today at www.gmb.org.uk/join
Please click the links below to read the joint Trade Union letter and joint Trade Union detailed NJC Pay Claim 24/25
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Dear GMB Member
Many thanks to all GMB members in both schools and local government who participated in the recent NJC industrial action ballot over pay.
Following the GMB consultative ballot many GMB members asked to be balloted for strike action to get a fully funded better deal. We listened to our members who were clearly unhappy and wanted to express their frustrations.
Following the conclusion of the NJC Industrial Action ballot the message from the majority of GMB members was clear - though clearly angry, members are struggling in the current climate and need the money in pay packets now.
The GMB National Local Government and Schools Committees met today, 31 October 2023, to discuss the NJC Industrial Action ballot results and next steps. It was agreed that, due to anti Trade Union legislation, GMB has not secured enough mandates to pursue effective Industrial Action and that we should prioritise and focus our attention on pay for 2024/25.
We will also be asking GMB members what would make work better for you, listen to GMB members on local issues other than pay and build local campaigns on these issues.
We will continue to campaign for the full funding of future NJC pay offers from central government.
We will now inform the employers that the 2023/24 pay offer has been accepted.
If you want to get involved in GMB campaigns going forward, please get in touch by contacting. publicservices@gmb.org.uk
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The GMB ballot of Local Government and School Support Staff over pay and funding for 2023/24 has now closed.
Thank you to every member who returned their ballot in this crucial vote.
All ballot results will now be analysed, and your National Local Government and School’s Committees will be meeting in the coming days to determine the next steps in this campaign.
More details will be published in the coming days.
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The three recognised Local Government Trade Unions, GMB, Unite and Unison met on 19 September 2023 at a full NJC committee meeting to discuss the Joint Trade Unions positions on the pay offer for 2023/24.
The position currently is that Unite are taking strike action in some areas and undertaking industrial action ballots of other Unite members to support their strike.
The GMB industrial action ballots are currently underway and the GMB industrial action ballot closes on 24 October 2023. Can all GMB members ensure that you return your completed ballot papers.
The Joint Trade Union position is that no decisions will be made on pay until all the ballots are concluded and the individual trade unions have considered their next steps. The Joint Trade Union Committee will reconvene following this process.
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The Joint NJC Trade Union side joint secretaries have written to the Local Government Association to urge the employer to return to the negotiating table.
Here is the response we received.
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Following the rejection of the pay offer for 2023/24 in the consultative ballot of GMB members we will now be proceeding to a formal Civica industrial action ballot of members in some areas. GMB will also be working with GMB members in other areas on local campaigns that are important to them.
Please contact your Regional Office for full details regarding the above.
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If negotiations aren't reopened GMB Union will move to industrial action ballots
GMB members across England, Wales & Northern Ireland have voted to reject the local Government pay offer.
A majority of 64 per cent voted to reject the offer of £1,925 - on a pro rata for part time and term time only workers - for 2023/24.
Unless negotiations are reopened, GMB will move to an industrial action ballot in some areas.
Sharon Wilde, GMB National Officer, said:
“GMB members across England, Wales & Northern Ireland have voted to reject the NJC pay offer for this year.
“We now call on the Local Government Association (LGA) to return to the table and make an improved offer that recognises the true value of our members working in our schools and across our councils.
“We will also be calling on central government to provide additional funding to allow employers and schools to pay more and invest in their workforce.
“If negotiations aren't reopened and a revised offer made, we will move to industrial action ballots in some areas.”
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GMB pay ballot covering 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 is now open.
In GMB only members have their say on pay and we now need you to take part in this important ballot and let us know if you are prepared to accept or reject the pay offer.
The closing date for the ballot is Friday 28th April 2023.
GMB joint Local Government and Schools Committee representatives have discussed the pay offer and believe that you are worth more than the current pay offer and are recommending that you vote to REJECT
A vote to reject, is also your vote in favour of industrial action as a next step in this campaign if there is no improvement to the current offer.
From school support staff to refuse workers, from town hall workers to social workers. Hundreds of occupations are covered by this pay offer. (Approximately 1 million workers plus are covered).
2023/24 Local Government & Schools Pay offer is for one year and is as follows:
The employers also responded to other elements of the pay claim as follows:
Union Claim |
Employer Response |
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 Joint Secretaries will enter into exploratory ‘without prejudice’ informal discussions in order to map out the practical considerations of how and when the pay spine might be reviewed once the future policy direction of the National Living Wage has been confirmed. |
A review and improvement of NJC terms for family leave and pay. |
Agree to enter into discussions on the broader family leave and pay issues. Also to incorporate into the National Agreement’s Maternity Scheme, the statutory provisions that provide for an additional week’s leave for each week a neonatal baby is in hospital, for up to 12 weeks, paid currently at the statutory rate of £156.66 per week (or 90% of earnings, if less). |
A review of job evaluation outcomes for school staff whose day-to-day work includes working on Special Educational Needs (SEN). |
Reject that outcomes are reviewed as these are matters for local determination. They are aware that model profiles for school support staff roles are ten years old. They propose that the Job Evaluation Technical Working Group will conduct a review of all the 2013 profiles. |
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. |
Rejected. |
Establish model role profiles for school support staff jobs, with advisory banding structures. |
Rejected. |
An additional day of annual leave for personal or well-being purposes. |
Rejected. |
A homeworking allowance for staff for whom it is a requirement to work from home. |
Rejected. |
A reduction in the working week by two hours. |
Rejected. |
GMB is now asking you to vote to accept or reject the pay offer.
GMBs Local Government & Schools Committees are recommending that you REJECT.
What happens next is up to you. We need all our members to have their say on pay. Make sure you get your ballot paper and vote. If you have not received your ballot paper, please contact your local GMB branch/office details at GMB Regions | GMB
Throughout this ballot we need you to help build bargaining power in your workplace so please do one or all of the following:
Would you like information on becoming a GMB Representative in your workplace? Email PublicServices@gmb.org.uk
Not a GMB member? Join today at www.gmb.org.uk/join
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Workers including carers, school support staff, social workers, and refuse collectors will be recommended to reject the deal
GMB is set to ballot more than 100,000 local government workers after the NJC pay deal for 2023/24.
Workers including carers, school support staff, social workers, refuse collectors will be recommended to reject a flat rate proposed settlement from the local government employers.
GMB’s Local Government Staff Council is recommending that members reject the offer after the Local Government Association (LGA) said that it was the last and final offer on the table.
If workers reject the deal in the ballot, which will run for six weeks from the end of March, GMB will move to a full strike vote.
Sharon Wilde, GMB National Officer, said:
“Simply put, this deal isn’t enough to make up for a decade of austerity, followed by a cost-of-living crisis.
“In addition for many of GMB’s part time workers, including over a hundred thousands school support staff, the part time nature of the role means their pay rise will be far less than the headline figures.
“In addition, several non-pay related demands from GMB were rejected by the LGA.
“Ultimately it’s up for GMB members to decide, but that’s why our local government and schools committees are recommending rejection.”
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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:
The offer that has now been received is for:
In response to the other elements of the pay claim, the employers position is:
Employers rejected the following elements of the pay claim:
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.
More details will follow shortly.
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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:
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.
In addition:
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.
Would you like information on becoming a GMB Representative in your workplace? Email:- Publicservices@gmb.org.uk
Not a GMB member? Join today at GMB
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The NJC pay survey closed in November 2020. The headline results are as follows:
31% of respondents would be willing to accept a 5% pay increase to at least maintain standard of living
93% respondents think GMB should continue to campaign for a minimum £10.00 starting rate
63% respondents say excluding a percentage increase there is not anything else they would like GMB to submit on the claim (we have agreed to supplement this year’s pay claim with a conditions pay claim)
37% of respondents work regular unpaid overtime
69% of respondents have taken time off due to Covid-19
94% were paid whilst off due to Covid 19
Due to pandemic and restricted access to workplaces:
100+ people requested socially distanced workplace meetings.
100+ requested online workplace meeting.
100+ respondents would be interested in becoming a GMB Rep in the workplace
GMB are meeting with NJC Unions to agree the full staff side pay claim. GMB NJC meetings have already taken place with the majority view that we move to a pay claim that asks for a substantial pay increase but that this pay round we include a condition’s claim as there are several areas NJC unions want to discuss with the employer in the next pay round.
JANUARY 2021 |
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FEBRUARY 2021 |
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MARCH 2021 |
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APRIL 2021+ |
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As you will be aware NJC trade unions have been in on-going pay talks with Local Government and School employers for some time and well before we moved into this unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic.
Whilst GMB’s priority has been to support all our members across Local Government and School through the pandemic we have continued to hold talks with the Local Government Association (LGA) on the pay claim trade union submitted last June 2019.
TO RECAP
The initial offer of 2% tabled by the employers a few months ago was rejected outright and the trade unions asked the employers to improve the offer. We also wrote to the employers as we moved into this pandemic:
Today (16/04/20) the LGA employers tabled their revised offer headlines of the offer are as follows:
With effect from 1 April 2020, an increase of 2.75 per cent on all NJC pay points 1 and above
With effect from 1 April 2020, an increase of one day to the minimum annual leave entitlement as set out at Part 2 Para 7.2 in the National Agreement. This increase would apply just to those employees whose leave entitlement at 1 April 2020 is twenty-one days (plus extra statutory and public holidays)
An agreement that the Joint Secretaries should continue discussions on “a comprehensive joint national review of the workplace causes of stress and mental health”
The National Employers have also proposed that the Joint Secretaries enter into discussions, without prejudice, in order to examine all options for ensuring the sector – and the NJC pay spine - can meet the challenge of the Government’s target for the National Living Wage in the coming years.
Employer side to make representations to government in order to seek funding for an additional amount to be awarded above the tabled 2.75% to employees in recognition of the exceptional hard work.
GMB INITIAL RESPONSE
The GMB alongside sister unions have responded to the offer expressing disappointment. Please see as follows:
Joint trade union response to LGA 16/04/20 Letter
Joint Union Press Release 160420 Press Release
In response to the offer
Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary, said:
“We rejected the initial opening offer of 2% as it was woefully low - and that was before the seismic shift caused by coronavirus.
“Right now, our most precious resources are our key workers. They are getting us through this pandemic with their invaluable and selfless dedication in numerous critical roles.
That’s why we are so disappointed the LGA hasn’t made a strong enough case before tabling a 2.75% offer to government to fund a key workers allowance.
“The ask is simple; we want employers and the Government to recognise the strain and huge risks our members are working under. Many of them are struggling to access PPE and are still waiting for the coronavirus testing they have been promised.
“We will continue to make representations for the best settlement and let GMB members have their say on pay.
NEXT STEPS
In GMB our members always have a say on their pay so a full pay ballot for you to have a vote on the offer will follow but please note the next steps are as follows:
A full meeting of Senior Reps of the GMB Local Government and Schools Committee’s will take place Monday 20th April 2020. The meeting will be held virtually.
GMB members will be asked to support our efforts in pushing government to top the tabled 2.75% and details will emerge on how you can do this.
A timetable for the ballot will be worked out but we do not anticipate the ballot to open until we have exhausted the push to government to top up the 2.75.
We will continue to carry on with the pay negotiations on the areas that need further talks until we conclude to a final pay offer
CONCLUSION
GMB appreciates how difficult the current working environment our members are operating under and we will continue to ensure we make full representation on your pay. Once we reach a conclusion the final offer will be put to every member to a vote to have their say on pay.
SIGN UP
GMB appreciate that key workers are on the frontline but please now is the time to build our union power so if you are aware of any work colleagues not in a union please encourage them to join at www.gmb.org.uk
We appreciate you may have a number of questions on the next steps but please be assured will continue to provide regular prompt update in the coming days and weeks. If you need to raise anything on pay please contact your local GMB Rep/Officer.
Can we take this opportunity to thank you for keeping us safe and for all you are doing in getting us through this pandemic.
Best Wishes
Rehana Azam
GMB National Secretary
Karen Leonard
GMB National Officer