Local government pay: UNISON recommends members reject offer

 Loading ...

The biggest local government union has joined the GMB and Unite in coming out against the offer for council and some school staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which was made last month and which employers have dubbed “full and final”.

“Staff at councils and schools deserve a decent pay rise this year for their vital work providing services to local communities,” said UNISON’s head of local government, Mike Short.

“Given the many years of underwhelming or even non-existent wage rises workers have endured, this offer falls some way short.

“The union’s local government committee is recommending staff reject this offer. It will now be up to school and council workers to decide what they want to do next.”

The ballots are likely to run during May and June.

Should members follow their unions’ advice and reject the offer, this will set the scene for formal ballots for industrial action over the summer, paving the way for strikes during the autumn.

In each of the past two years, unions have settled for employers’ initial pay offer – £1,290 or 2.5% in 2024-25 and £1,925 in 2025-26 – after several months of dispute that have involved balloting for strike action.