There’s a possibility of a summer of strikes at local councils across the country – including in Croydon – after national negotiators offered a pay increase of barely half of what trade unions had asked for in the 2024-2025 pay round.
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Trade union officials who represent most of the 1.5million workers employed by local councils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have described the offer as “disappointing”.
The Local Government Association, which represents the employers, has presented a “full and final offer” of a 5.77% increase for the lowest paid, back-dated to from April 1 this year, with a pay increase of at least £1,290.
Council workers on higher grades of pay have been offered an increase of 2.5%.
The pay increases will have to be funded entirely out of councils’ own budgets – including the likes of cash-strapped Croydon. The Conservative Government has refused to provide additional funding for the pay increases.
In February, trades unions Unison, the GMB and Unite submitted a claim for a pay rise of 10%, or £3,000 for lower-paid council and school employees at 350 local authorities. The lowest-paid local government workers are currently on £22,366 per year.
The unions will argue that the offer will represent a cut in pay for their members. Inflation in the UK last year hit 10.1%. Inflation has more recently fallen to 3.2%.
The LGA’s Tim Roca, who chairs the local government employers, said: “For the lowest paid, the offer means their pay will have increased by £5,323 – almost 30% – over the three years since April 2021.
“The national employers are acutely aware of the additional pressure this year’s offer will place on already hard-pressed council finances, as it would need to be paid for from existing budgets.
“However, they believe their offer is fair to employees, given the wider economic backdrop.”
Balloting members: GMB’s Rachel Harrison
The GMB union is already planning to ballot its members over possible industrial action.
Rachel Harrison, the GMB’s national secretary, said: “On the face of it, the deal looks disappointing – a cash lump sum of £1,290 equating to just 5.7% for the lowest paid.
“The LGA rejected our claims for a shorter working week, additional days’ leave and a commitment to work towards a minimum of £15 an hour. The GMB will now speak to our local government and schools committees to decide our position on the offer and will then ballot all members.”
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If they do decide to strike, will we notice any real difference?