Members of Unite’s national committee representing workers in councils across England, Wales and Northern Ireland have decided to recommend rejection of the local government pay offer.

Low pay offer

Last month, the local government employers made a pay offer that was worth between 3.88 and 9.42  per cent for 2023/24, depending on grade. With the current real inflation rate (RPI) currently standing at 13.4 per cent this amounts to a real terms pay cut of nearly 10 per cent for some members.

Frontline workers

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Local government workers provide vital frontline services. They are now absolutely determined to fight for a pay increase that will not see their pay eroded by inflation for yet another year.

“Local government employers need to enter into full pay negotiations and make a decent pay offer if industrial action is to be avoided."

Local government representatives in Unite have rejected the initial offer, principally because it is even lower than the offer made to workers last year, at a time when the rate of inflation is even higher than it was than. 

Growing anger

Unite acting national officer Clare Keogh said: “Local government employers need to recognise that there is growing anger among local government workers about the way they are treated year after year in pay negotiations. If the employers want to avoid industrial action they need to make a much improved offer. It is as simple as that."

Further negotiations are to be held with local government employers tomorrow (Wednesday) alongside Unison and GMB, where the unions will be seeking a significant improvement in the pay offer.

ENDS

 For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.

Email: [email protected]

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.