Posted on: 31 January 2025

Dear Members,

We want to thank everyone who participated in the recent survey regarding your aspirations for pay this year.

The survey results were discussed at a joint meeting of the GMB National Local Government and Schools Committees on 16^th January 2025. 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:

• A £3000 flat rate increase on all pay points. This would ensure that all Local Government and Schools workers receive at least an uplift of RPI plus 2%. (the RPI rate is forecast at 3.5% April 2025)
• School support staff - to be allowed to take 1 day of their current annual leave during term time.
• A reduction in the working week by two hours for Local Government workers

The NJC Executive made up of representatives from GMB, Unison and Unite, met on 24^th January 2025 to discuss each union’s proposed pay claim. Following thorough discussions and negotiations, a headline claim has been agreed for the joint union pay claim. The claim is:

NJC TRADE UNION SIDE PAY CLAIM 2025

An increase of at least £3,000 on all spinal column points.

In addition:

• A clear plan to reach a minimum pay rate of £15 an hour
• One extra day of annual leave for all staff
• A reduction in the working week by two hours, with no loss of pay
• The ability for school staff to take [at least] one day of their annual leave during term time, with no loss of pay

You can read the full pay claim here: njc-pay-claim-2025-26.pdf

This claim has now been submitted to the Local Government Association. Employers will be briefed on the joint union pay claim and we expect pay negotiations to commence in April. Further updates will follow in due course.

Posted on: 17 January 2025

Dear Members,

Following the NJC pay survey of GMB members, a joint meeting was convened of the

National Local Government and National Schools Committees on Thursday 16 January to discuss the GMB pay claim for NJC 2025/26. After much debate and consideration, the following GMB NJC pay claim for 2025/26 on behalf of GMB members was agreed.

• A £3000 flat rate increase on all pay points. This would ensure that all Local Government and Schools workers receive at least an uplift of RPI plus 2%. (the RPI rate is forecast at 3.5% April 2025)
• School support staff - to be allowed to take 1 day of their current annual leave during term time as a contractual right.
• A reduction in the working week by two hours for Local Government workers.

We would like to thank the joint National Local Government and Schools Committee for their input and work on this.

GMB are meeting with the National Joint Council for Local Government Services Executive Trade Unions (GMB, Unison and Unite) next week to agree the headline claims and arrangements before submitting the joint claim to the National Employers at the end of January 2025.

Posted on: 18 November 2024

Dear Members,

You may recall on 9^th October we published a letter we received from Angela Rayner SoS for Housing, Communities and Local Government in response to a letter from GMB concerning the funding crisis and were awaiting a response from SoS for Education.

We have now received a response from Bridget Phillipson regarding school support staff pay and high needs funding. There is also a commitment to look at the merits of collecting information on school support staff vacancies, which is welcomed. Please read the letter here: 

bridget-phillipson-response-09-11-24.pdf

Kind regards,

Stacey Booth and Sharon Wilde, National Officers for Schools and Local Government

Posted on: 29 October 2024

Dear Members

The circular for London pay scales the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 has been issued. You can read it via this link: 

london-payscales-01apr24.pdf

Posted on: 23 October 2024

Dear Members,

Please follow this link to read the NJC pay agreement for 2024, which contains the new pay scales:

lgs-pay-01apr24.pdf

Posted on: 22 October 2024

Dear Member,

The National Pay Award for Local Government for 2024/25 has now been settled.

Unison and Unite ballots have now concluded and the majority of the 3 recognised NJC unions have accepted the offer.

The Local Government Association has been notified and official communication will be sent out as soon as possible.

We will be in negotiation with your employer to ensure you receive your pay as soon as possible.

We will also be preparing for next year’s pay claim and look forward to hearing from you directly when visiting workplaces and in consultative surveys.

Posted on: 9 August 2024

Dear GMB Members

As you are aware, following the outcome of the NJC pay ballot for Local Government and Schools, the majority of GMB members who participated in the ballot decided to accept.

During the ballot process, many GMB members told us that, although they were disappointed with the pay offer, they are struggling to make ends meet due to the cost-of-living crisis and they did not want to experience delays in receiving the pay award for this year and just wanted the pay in their pockets now.

Unite and Unison also consulted their members on the offer which was rejected and have now decided to proceed to industrial action ballots.

Both unions will be conducting their ballots between the end of August and mid-October.

On the 29^{th of} July the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced that this new government accepts the public sector pay review bodies recommendations in full. In response to this announcement the joint recognised unions, GMB, Unison and Unite responded in writing to the National Employers of the LGA.

Please see the attached link below to the joint letter.

joint-union-letter-1-aug-2024.pdf

On the 7^{th of} August the National Employers responded to the joint trade union letter in writing.

Please see the attached response by clinking on the link below.

emps-to-njc-tus-07aug24.pdf

GMB will continue to campaign locally on issues that matter to you, our members, including funding arrangements, equal pay and campaigns around local industrial issues.

In September, GMB will launch school-specific local campaigns around issues that GMB members are telling us are important to them. Some of these include:

• Make My Day - GMB school support staff members overwhelmingly told us that they wanted an extra paid day off that they could take for personal or wellbeing purposes that they could take during term time. This was included in the joint trade union pay claim for 2024/25 but rejected by the National Employers.
• SEND Campaign - Supporting GMB members working in education settings.
• (TTO) Term Time Only Working Project - Aimed at addressing issues specific to term time-only working arrangements.

Posted on: 9 July 2024

GMB are writing to advise that a majority of GMB members who voted in the recent NJC ballot voted to accept the NJC pay offer for 2024/25.

We understand that a significant number of GMB members were very disappointed in other elements of the joint trade union pay claim being rejected by the National Employers, including the additional days leave that School Support Staff would have been able to take in term time.

GMB will continue to work with the LGA on negotiating improvements to other conditions as promised in the pay offer.

GMB will also continue to work on national campaigns that matter to you. These include local government and schools funding campaigning and the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB)

Finally, we would like to thank all GMB members who participated in this years NJC pay ballot 2024/25.

Sharon Wilde

National Officer

Posted on: 8 July 2024

Thank you to all GMB members who have voted in the recent NJC ballot. The ballot has now closed and the votes are being counted. There will be a further update in the next few days.

Posted on: 3 June 2024

Dear Members,

The NJC Pay Ballot for 2024-25 is now open.

Please vote and have your say on pay!

Posted on: 24 May 2024

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.

Posted on: 17 May 2024

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:

• Reviews of the gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps in local government
• A 2-hour reduction in the working week with no detriment
• An additional day of annual leave for personal or well-being purposes (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)
• A phased approach to reaching a minimum pay rate of £15 an hour in a maximum of two years, sooner if possible

The offer that has now been received is for:

• With effect from 1 April 2024, an increase of £1,290 (pro rata for part-time employees) to be paid as a consolidated, permanent addition on all NJC pay points 2 to 43 inclusive.
• With effect from 1 April 2024, an increase of 2.50 per cent on all pay points above the maximum of the pay spine but graded below deputy chief officer (in accordance with Green Book Part 2 Para 5.41)
• With effect from 1 April 2024 an increase of 2.50 per cent on all allowances (as listed in the 2023 NJC pay agreement circular dated 1 November 2023)

In response to the other elements of the pay claim, the employer’s position is:

• Reviews of the gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps in local government.”
• The LGA monitors councils statutory reporting of the Gender Pay Gap, providing annual updates through the LG Inform platform. This year, the LGA will be undertaking a programme of work which will include examining how councils report any pay gaps across their workforce, particularly in relation to employees with certain protected characteristics. The National Employers propose the NJC Joint Secretaries discuss options for working together to capture pay gap information that will be of most benefit to the sector.

Employers rejected the following elements of the pay claim:

• A two-hour reduction in the working week, with no detriment.
• An additional day of annual leave for personal or well-being purposes (with termtime only staff also receiving a full day rather than a pro rata amount, that they can use at any time, including term time)
• A phased approach to reaching a minimum pay rate of £15 an hour in a maximum of two years, sooner if possible.

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.

Posted on: 29 February 2024

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 26^th 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:

• An increase of £3,000 or 10%, whichever is the greater, fully funded by the government.
• A clear plan to reach £15 per hour minimum rate by next year’s pay implementation date 2025.
• 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.
• End the current unfair term time only contract model and work with the NJC trade union side to develop a replacement that gives support staff the value and recognition they deserve.

The NJC Executive made up of representatives from GMB, Unison and Unite, met on 27^th 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.

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

joint-tu-letter-final-29th-february.pdf

njc-pay-claim-2024-25.pdf

Posted on: 31 October 2023

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

Posted on: 24 October 2023

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.

Posted on: 20 September 2023

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.

Posted on: 17 August 2023

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.

Joint Letter to Employers

Here is the response we received.

Response from the Employers

Posted on: 16 August 2023

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.

Posted on: 5 May 2023

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.”

Posted on: 12 April 2023

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 28^th 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:

• With effect from 1 April 2023, an increase of £1,925 on all NJC pay points 2 - 43 (FTE). This equates to 9.42% for SCP2 and no less than 3.88% for SCP43. (This will be pro rata for part time and term time only workers).
• With effect from 1 April 2023, an increase of 3.88% on all allowances (as listed in the 2022 NJC pay agreement circular dated 1 November 2022)

The employers also responded to other elements of the pay claim as follows:

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:

1. Once you have voted please encourage your work colleagues to cast their vote.
2. Become a GMB rep if you haven’t got one in your workplace: gmb.org.uk/become-workplace-representative
3. Recruit a GMB member - colleagues not in a union? Sign them up here: gmb.org.uk/join

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

Posted on: 9 March 2023

GMB TO BALLOT MORE THAN 100,000 LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS ON 23/24 PAY DEAL

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.”

Posted on: 23 February 2023

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.

More details will follow shortly.

Posted on: 1 February 2023

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.

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

Posted on: 8 January 2021

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

NEXT STEPS

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.

TIMELINE (subject to change please visit this page regularly as it will be updated)

Posted on: 11 July 2020

The GMB 2020 NJC Pay Ballot is now open!

VOTE NOW! @ THE HYSOYP HUB

Posted on: 17 April 2020