NJC Pay Ballot 2024/25
Local Government and School Workers
NJC PAY BALLOT 2024/25 NOW OPEN!
GMB’s pay ballot covering all workers across Local Government, Schools and Academies that follow National Joint Council (NJC Green Book) pay, terms and conditions is now open.
The 2024/25 Local Government & Schools Pay offer is for one year and is as follows:
- With effect from 1 April 2024, an increase of £1290 on all NJC pay points 2 - 43 (FTE). This equates to 5.77% for SCP2 and no less than 2.5 % for SCP43. (This will be pro rata for part time and term time only workers).
- With effect from 1 April 2024, an increase of 2.5 % on all pay points above the maximum of the pay spine but graded below deputy chief officer.
- With effect from 1 April 2024, an increase of 2.5% on all allowances (as listed in the 2022 NJC pay agreement circular dated 1 November 2022)
The employers rejected the following elements of the pay claim.
- 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 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.
Regarding the Joint Unions claim for reviews of the gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps in local government, the National Employer has proposed the NJC Joint Secretaries discussing options for working together to capture pay gap information that will be of most benefit to the sector.
The Employer has also stated it wishes to commence intense and meaningful negotiations with the joint NJC Trade unions on a redesigned national pay spine.
GMB joint Local Government and Schools Committee representatives have discussed the pay offer and agreed to not make any recommendation to members. This is because the Employer has stated that this is a full and final offer and there will be no further negotiation. Therefore, in the event members reject the offer the Employer will not reopen negotiations to discuss the rejection meaning GMB would have to carry out an industrial action ballot and potentially take strike action to try and change the Employers position.
The Joint Committee delegates shared their members view that they do not want to prolong the ballot process. Given members did not receive the 2023/24 pay award until December 2023, the National Committee is conscious members may not want this year’s pay award to be delayed. The Joint Committees also expressed disappointment that it took the Employer so long to make an offer (GMB claim was submitted 29th February 2024 and Employer made the offer on 16th May 2024).
Members need to decide whether they wish to accept or reject the offer. A rejection of the offer is a vote in favour of moving to a formal industrial action ballot which could lead to a delay in the payment of the 2024/25 pay award.
Members will receive their ballot paper by email, SMS or in the post. If your contact details have changed, please update them by scanning the QR Code below.
Don’t miss out on your chance to have your say on pay!
The NJC Employer only acknowledges the ballot results from those Unions that are recognised for Local Government and Schools. These Unions are GMB, Unison and Unite.
If any of your colleagues are not in one of the recognised Unions, they can join GMB today and also take part in the ballot.
Update your contact details here.
