Our employers have offered another meagre pay rise of 3.2%. We’ve already lost over 25% of our wages since 2010, on top of huge increases in our fuel bills, food, rent and travel over the last couple of years. It's no wonder we’re struggling to make ends meet. And because of continued funding cuts, our jobs are harder.  We are working the role of 2 people, with less pay than 1.  That’s why we need both an above-inflation increase and a plan to restore our pay over the coming years.

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Public Services Not Private Profit

The pay offer of 3.2% was made on 22 April by the Labour government. This is well short of the £3,000 on all pay points that was asked for.  

 

The pay claim also asked for:

• One extra day of annual leave for all staff

• Reduction in the working week by two hours

• The ability for school staff to take [at least] one day of their annual leave during term time.

 

The TU Side believes our headline claim is fair and appropriate.  

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The Money’s There

We aren’t all in this together, and ‘pain’ isn’t equal. The rich are still getting richer at our expense, they certainly aren’t feeling any pain. We know about the obscene profits the energy companies have made the last few years. But the 2025 ‘rich list’ shows yet again that UK billionaires are getting richer. They should be properly taxed and the money invested in our public services, not lining the pockets of city fat cats.​​​​​​​​​

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Profits are Stolen Wages

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Get Ballot-Ready

Our employers have offered with effect from 1 April 2025, an increase of 3.2% to be paid as a consolidated addition on all NJC pay points 2 to 43 inclusive.  That is an increase for someone on the minimum wage for a 37 hour week of £23,492 per year of £752, or £14.46 per week, or 39p per hour. 

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Not only is this a miserly pay rise, it’s less than we got for the last three years. Can we really afford another pay cut? We already work over a day for free compared to a decade ago – Pay Free Friday – and now they’re coming for our Thursday pay too.​

 

That’s why UNISON will be balloting us for strike action. The Branch will keep you informed, so please check all correspondence via email, and check back to this page for updates.

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Check your contact details are correct at My UNISON | UNISON National   Unison will need your postal address to send you your ballot papers.

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More details on the National site here: Council and School Pay | Campaigns | UNISON National

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Including links to the pay claim and offer in full.