Social work opinion is divided on whether to strike over this year’s local government pay offer for 2024-25, a Community Care poll has found.
While a slight majority of practitioners would take action in pursuit of a better deal, over a third were sceptical that this would work.
Last month, employers announced a “full and final” pay offer for council staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland of the higher of £1,290 or 2.5%. This is worth 3-4% for social workers.
While unions had previously lodged a claim for a 10% rise, employers have said this offer is at the limits of affordability for councils.
As unions consult their members to determine their next steps, a Community Care poll on the pay offer, amassing 1,653 votes, found that over half of respondents (52%) were willing to strike for a better deal.
However, the rest voted against taking industrial action. Over a third (35%) did not like the offer but said “a strike won’t work and will just delay a deal”, while 13% felt content with the pay rise.
An ‘insulting’ offer
Comments under the related article painted a similar picture, with the vast majority of social workers opposed to the offer.
Many practitioners called the offer “insulting” or “disappointing”, with one adding that they were hoping for the worst-case scenario being “another offer of £1,925”, in reference to the previous two years’ pay settlements.
“Social workers have had roughly 3% for the past god knows how many years. They’ve had pay cuts in real terms with inflation and bill increases and don’t strike often enough,” said C Devine.
“The wage does not match the amount of work, stress, and mental damage it inflicts. No wonder people are leaving the sector in droves.”
‘I haven’t been on holiday for years’
“They think we live on air or we don’t have to pay for rent, clothes or food,” added Titus.
“I haven’t been on holiday for years because I cannot afford it! The nature of social work involves dealing with emotionally charged situations, which can lead to high stress and burnout – especially if you have to worry about yourself, your kids, bills, and health. This emotional toll can make people leave the profession for good.”
Another practitioner, Maria, said the offer did not “offer anything of substance to the people on the ground”.
“We deserve a pay that keeps us off the poverty line but the local authorities paying us need help to achieve this. […] Offers such as this do not help in any way. As a permanent employee, this offer is beyond disappointing.”
‘Feels like we lose either way’
However, despite the discontent, opinion was divided on whether or not a strike would be effective.
While Rebecca said she would be “voting for strike action”, Jimmy said that would mean losing “more in unpaid strike days than the employers are ever going to offer”.
“Feels like we lose either way,” he added.
“Just take the pay rise this year please,” said Ricky Smith, who referenced the fact that protracted disputes over the past two years did not result in improved offers.
“Sadly I’d concur with those warning caution,” echoed Claire S. “And certainly when it comes to strike action – how many can actually afford to strike and lose the pay?”
Unions’ impact questioned
Others questioned unions’ ability to secure a better deal, pointing to the experience of the past two years.
Gerry T said union negotiations would put off the pay rises until December, “without any meaningful increase”.
“The people in the lower grades will have their pay rise backdated and, if they are claiming universal credit, they will lose this for a month. This means they pay back their pay rise. Just something to think about before we all talk about strike action.”
“Here is another wait till December, for the third year in a row!” added Jade.
“I wouldn’t mind if they actually achieved something but it’s just delaying wages that people need, then finally backing down accepting the original offer anyway.”
‘Times are hard for everyone’
However, some practitioners were more sympathetic to the offer, commenting that it reflected the current state of the economy.
“That’s more than fair in this climate,” said Andy.
Social worker Lance Dann said his local authority had to issue a “bankruptcy” notice, under section 114 of the Local Government Act 1972, and couldn’t commit to more spending.
“Times are hard for everyone. We need to remember that we get a better pension than most and paid sickness, which a lot of people don’t get,” he added. “We are in a profession which is generally secure.”
He also commented on unions “dragging” negotiations “for months to achieve nothing”.
“[Employers have] been made clear this is a full and final offer like the last few years. So let’s just get the money rather than dragging it on until December for the same outcome.”
Another practitioner echoed Lance’s comments, saying their service was “struggling to balance the books”.
“I’d love a higher offer. But you know what, I’ll gladly take whatever they’re able to give us. I’d rather take a smaller pay increase to help provide the best possible service for our clients.
“All that will be achieved by rejecting this deal is to drag the whole thing on for months and delay us actually getting the pay rise.”
Celebrate those who’ve inspired you
For our 50th anniversary, we’re expanding our My Brilliant Colleague series to include anyone who has inspired you in your career – whether current or former colleagues, managers, students, lecturers, mentors or prominent past or present sector figures whom you have admired from afar.
Nominate your colleague or social work inspiration by either:
- Filling in our nominations form with a letter or a few paragraphs (100-250 words) explaining how and why the person has inspired you.
- Or sending a voice note of up to 90 seconds to +447887865218, including your and the nominee’s names and roles.
If you have any questions, email our community journalist, Anastasia Koutsounia, at anastasia.koutsounia@markallengroup.com
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 
Hampshire County Council 
Lincolnshire County Council 
Norfolk County Council 
Northamptonshire Children’s Trust 
South Gloucestershire Council 
Wiltshire Council 
Wokingham Borough Council 
Children and young people with SEND are ‘valued and prioritised’ in Wiltshire, find inspectors 
How specialist refugee teams benefit young people and social workers 
Podcast: returning to social work after becoming a first-time parent 
Podcast: would you work for an inadequate-rated service? 
Family help: one local authority’s experience of the model 
‘We are all one big family’: how one council has built a culture of support 
Workforce Insights – showcasing a selection of the sector’s top recruiters 
Facebook
X
LinkedIn
Instagram
When we strike we lose a days pay, and the work is still waiting for us. It’s not like other jobs, where our absence would be more apparent.
Work to rule, ie the 35/37 hours per week you are contracted to work. That way you don’t lose pay, nor do you work excessive 50+ hours per week. In the absence of this ongoing goodwill working there will be a realisation that the whole system is broken and in need of reform that will include better pay for Social Workers
Well said
In what world do social workers not have enough for food an holidays??? You should try working your butt off in a skilled job in social services finance for a measly grade 5 because they won’t regrade you!!! Try living off £1700 a month!!! Then complain how it sucks!
Quite agree. It is just getting everyone to do so to make an impact.
David, I completely agree.
I have thought about how social workers can have the greatest impact, whilst not losing pay, and not feeling we are letting our families down.
I strongly believe we should work to rule; work our set hours, not a minute over. Switch phones on only between those hours. Do not be contactable on annual leave/toil.
This will significantly impact service, as most councils rely on the unspoken & undeclared number of additional hours social workers put in, which should be either remunerated fairly, or, additional staff recruited. At the same time, social workers would be fulfilling their contractual obligations to their employer and their families, so no loss of provision of care.
This would ultimately prove an unsustainable model for councils and prompt action. It would also be something social workers could maintain until a result happened.
Unions do not offer this option in their ballots. The low take up of the striking option is clearly due to not being able to afford to do it, and not wishing to let the families down we work for. It does not mean there is no appetite for taking action.
Work to rule definitely sounds like a more realistic plan than striking.
Thanks Sandy. With no action whatsoever sadly things will not change. Have just read that the Tories have no intention of providing additional funding to Children’s Social Care
Social workers get more than enough pay. I’m sorry a police officer starts on 28/30k a year э, 37k in the met (social workers start on aroune 38/40k plus). I know what job is harder.
(An social worker and ex cop thinking about going back to the front line after 14 months out of uni)
This is just not true. London costings are significantly different to other authorities. In the LAs around where is live the starting wage is £30k~ and that’s with 4/5 years of education and a honors degree/masters. Police don’t need qualifications.
Sorry but my information is that the starting pay for Social Workers is around £28 000 per annum. They do not receive overtime pay for their excessive hours, 50+ weekly, over and above their contracted hours of 35/37 per week
In principle, Work to Rule sounds like a plan, however our managers could go down the capability route, given that we appear unable to manage our time effectively. They will never admit to giving us more work than we can complete within a working week, and speak concernedly about the mythical work/life balance.
Members need to remember this is not just about social workers pay but ALL council workers. By voting for strike action, this means as a mass of workers, selective strikes can happen in key areas. Members not in a striking sector can pay a levy to support a union hardship fund.
This isn’t just about pay though because as workers leave for better wages elsewhere, posts are left empty or lost altogether meaning higher workloads, reduced services and so “our families suffer.
Keeping Local Authorities strapped for cash is a political identical choice and I don’t see Labour changing that. So a clear message needs to be sent PROTECT SERVICES, FAIR PAY, PROTECT JOBS!!