A second union will ballot members on taking strike action over this year’s pay offer for local government staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Unite has joined UNISON in asking members whether they are prepared to walk out this autumn and winter over employers’ offer of a rise of £1,290 or 2.5%, whichever is higher, for staff working outside of London.
Because of London weighting, those working in the capital’s outer boroughs are being offered £1,491, and staff in inner London £1,575, instead of the £1,290. The proposed settlement is worth 3-4% for social workers.
Employers have described the offer as “full and final”, however, only members of the GMB voted to accept it, while the deal cannot be agreed unless two unions – including UNISON – accept it.
Industrial action ballots
Earlier this month, UNISON – the union with the biggest social work membership in the UK – announced it would ballot members from 4 September to 16 October. Unite’s vote will run from the end of August to mid-October.
To obtain a mandate to strike, half of members must vote, with a majority voting in favour. UNISON has said that it is balloting employers separately, meaning it could obtain mandates in relation to some councils but not others.
The ballots set the scene for a winter of industrial action and another late resolution to the pay settlement for negotiating body the National Joint Council for Local Government Services, which covers the vast majority of authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Last year’s deal was agreed in November 2023, with employers having not improved their initial offer despite a protracted dispute.
Superior pay deals for other public sector staff
The prospects for a deal may have become more remote this week after the government agreed pay deals of 5-6% for several other public sector workers, including NHS staff, teachers, prison officers and the police, with even more for junior doctors.
This is significantly more, in percentage terms, than what is on offer for all but the lowest-paid council staff.
It also means that social workers in the NHS are set to receive significantly higher pay rises than their counterparts in local government.
The situation prompted significant concern from the British Association of Social Workers and the Social Workers Union.
Social workers ‘persistently undervalued’
In a joint statement, they said: “We acknowledge the positive announcement from the chancellor [Rachel Reeves] regarding public sector pay increases in England, including for social workers employed in the NHS.
“Despite this statement, the chancellor has failed to give any assurances to public sector workers employed and paid by local authorities, including the majority of the social worker workforce, who have suffered the worst pay growth compared to other public sector professions since 2010-11.
“While we recognise that funding for most public sector social workers is managed by local authorities, the exclusion of social workers from this pay increase sends a discouraging message. Social workers are essential frontline workers who provide vital services, and their exclusion from the pay rise is a stark reminder of the persistent undervaluation of their profession.”
Parameters set for Cafcass pay deal
Meanwhile, the government has also set the parameters for the 2024-25 pay deal for Cafcass practitioners. As a government agency, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), its staff are bound by the annual civil service pay remit, which was published this week.
Under this, government departments may make average pay awards of 5% for their staff and those working in the agencies they oversee.
This means that, should the MoJ make more generous settlements for other agencies, there would be less than 5% of available for Cafcass staff – and vice versa.
Also, the 5% must cover all increases in salary, not just the annual pay settlement, meaning the latter would generally be less than this headline figure.
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Social workers and other local government staff well deserve as much of a pay rise as do junior doctors. The Labour government should treat employees in the various public sectors equally.
Agreed
Quite agree with you Ryan.
Social workers in the NHS should not get more pay and additional leave and other benefits than those in local authorities. it’s unfair and devalues council staff. Social workers must vote to strike, enough is enough.
What are the dates of the Unite ballot?
I hope SWU step up and ballot their members views for strike action
Well GPs have now voted to “work to rule” regarding their working conditions, including having to work excessive hours impacting upon their ability to do their job effectively and safely. Local Authority Social Workers need to do the same and not before time
Why wait so long to ballot. Get it sorted over a shorter window as we all need the money sooner than Christmas!!
This is what will inevitably stop us getting anything extra and will mean us caving in like last year the focus on next year, rinse and repeat
Unless really struggling everyone should just stick together and refuse to cave in. It’s the ONLY way we have a chance . The Government are not stupid either . They know by delaying they get more chance of us giving in. We should all take the hit for now if we can , we will get the money sooner or later anyway but showing them we never cave in may mean we get more. They are laughing at us. Give all the money to NHS and Teachers to keep the public happy but we are immaterial to them
The SWU are blocked from the campaign. You need to join unison if you want to have a voice.
Never give in to this government. take the hit if you can for now and strike strike strike.They know we give in the longer they delay the more desperate people become and eventually like last year we cave in and then same again and again and again
We have the power. always remember that, we are just a country that never use it and let the dictators dictate . They gave all the money to NHS and Teachers (i still don’t get why teachers are more important than the rest of us ?) but its all done to keep the public happy, the rest of our our immaterial. Don’t let them treat us this way
This is the scam of the Public Sector unions, and keeping Social Workers and school ancillary staff locked away from the rest in with Council workers. We get done over time and time again because the workforce is too big and made up of too many professions. No focus, no will to strike, no mandate because the number needed is too high.
As a result of the financial crisis, Public Sector pay was frozen for years, first at 0% then at 1%. During this time, all Local Authority staff suffered the exact same pay cuts as Public Sector; at the time, we were all seen as equally responsible for supporting the economy during the crisis.
Fast forward to 2024, Public Sector receive inflation busting pay rises across the board; however as Local Authority pay rises are agreed by the NJC, we are no longer treated as public servants.
This is double standards, all the same when it saves money but separate when it means having to fork out for a realistic pay rise.
No one will want to work for Local Government for much longer and recruitment is already a sore subject.
It’s now the middle of August only 16 more weeks until we get a backdated til April pay increase
Nothing learned in three years from these unions take your subs every month for what ???
The shocking thing here is
The lack of updates from the unions
Lack of engagement
Lack of visibility in the work place
Uncoordinated approach to anything that’s being done despite the members crying out for it
They said last year accept this and we will work on next year, we’ll this year has been and gone and nothing
Local government workers do not exist clearly do not matter and are worthy of the minimal level of support and attention it’s outrageous that the subs get taken each month what are we paying for??? When you pay a subscription you expect a service to be delivered I’d love someone to explain what service is being delivered on our behalf here apart from delayed ballotting, uncoordinated efforts and treating its members with utter contempt
I am out – but I’ll still have to wait for these unions to sort things out – the cost of living continues to rise we are told repeatedly council budgets are thin so how’s about being realistic here and tackling the issue as soon as possible not an age after the event this is just creating apathy, mistrust and a disgruntled membership.
Sort it out will you