Local government staff keep communities safe, clean and accessible, often for little to no recognition.
Within our 2024 claim, we asked the employers for a pay increase of £3,000 or 10%, whichever was greater. The offer of £1,290 falls far short of this. (The local government employers have made an offer of a flat rate increase of £1,575 for workers in the inner London area and £1,491 for workers in outer London.)
Following a consultation of member, our NJC committee, made up of leading activists, decided that we would proceed with an industrial action ballot.
The ballot opens on Wednesday 4 September and closes at 10:00 on Wednesday 16 October.
Voting for, and taking, industrial action will send a clear message to employers that you need a better pay rise.
We will continue to every means possible to make the employers improve their offer. Read our latest joint union letter to the employers here.
Every year the joint trade union side for local governmemnt, UNISON, GMB and Unite, negotiate over pay. Below are details of the joint pay claim for local government workers in 2024-5
Pay Claim 2024-5
Local government pay has fallen back into bargain basement territory. We are some of the lowest paid workers in the public sector.
We have lost 25% of our pay in real terms since 2010.
More and more of us are struggling to make ends meet and falling into debt.
This year UNISON alongside the other unions has proposed the following:
A pay rise of £3,000 or 10% (whichever is greater) for all local government & school workers
The full claim is available on our Pay Campaign Website 2024 and has been submitted to the Employers’ Side.
Gearing up for the pay campaign!
The Employers Side will be consulting councils on the pay claim throughout March 2024, before meeting initially in April and then again in May 2024 to consider their response. It is crucial that we maximize political pressure on council and school employers during this period. We need everyone to make it absolutely clear to national and local government employers why a fair and decent pay rise is so vital.
This is a political fight to get central government to properly fund the public sector. The money is out there but they are prioritising ‘vote winning’ tax cuts over providing the services that people rely on.
Make sure your data is up to date
In case you are balloted for strike action over the pay claim we need to make sure your address is up to date. Please check your current details with us at My UNISON – Login Page.
Lambeth UNISON leads the way
During last years pay campaign Lambeth UNISON got the highest turn out in the country and an amazing 89% yes vote for strike action. This year local government branches up and down the country are looking to us because we are a flagship branch made up of trade unionists who want to fight for a decent standard of living and better pay.
If there are new people in your team then get the to join UNISON today join.unison.org.uk!
If we do get balloted for strike action over the pay claim we will expect every member to vote and have their say. Without a decent fight our pay will continue to decline and the crisis in local government will only get worse – that means engaged and active members across the union.
Lambeth Labour Councillors support the campaign by local government workers for better pay.
They have published this statement from Cllr Andy Wilson who is the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance and a councillor in Larkhall ward.
The last 18 months have been both tumultuous and terrifying, where the effects of the pandemic and the lockdown touched upon each of our lives.
Despite the upheaval that we all faced in our lives during those dark days, I am proud to report that 100% of essential services were delivered by Lambeth Council during this challenging time.
This is testament to the effort, dedication and professionalism of our local government workers, exhibiting a spirit of public service and hard work in maintaining provision for some of our most vulnerable residents during the most trying of times.
Since 2010 local government workers have suffered a 23% pay cut in their pay due to a decade and counting of austerity, public sector pay freezes and year on year inflation. Inflation is at 6% RPI and we are all facing a take home pay cut next year due to the increase in National Insurance Contributions.
The 1.75% pay offer is in reality a pay cut for hundreds of thousands of staff across the country. Lambeth Labour believes in a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s pay, and we support the joint calls from UNISON, The GMB, and Unite The Union for a pay award that reflects this.
Our residents and local government workers deserve better with a pay award that recognises the worth of the people that kept the show on the road during the height of the pandemic and beyond.
The national employers council for Local Government has offered Council workers a 1.75% pay increase for most staff and 2.75% for lower graded staff.
UNISON is rejecting this derisory offer which is below inflation and in no way makes up for over a decade of below inflation pay ‘increases’. UNISON is arguing for 10% for all staff. This would go some way to improving the lives of dedicated local government workers who have sacrificed so much and worked so hard even through the pandemic.
You can read more about the pay campaign for 10% below
and has been submitted to the Employers’ Side.
to contact your local MP about backing more funding for local government.
Lambeth UNISON 