We have today received an update from UNISON’s NJC Committee on the NJC (Green Book) Pay Award for 2020-21.
NJC pay is the pay received by the vast majority of our members employed by Salford City Council, Salix Homes, Salford Community Leisure, Aspire and Schools.
The update is as follows (in italics):
NJC PAY 2020
UNISON’s NJC Committee do not consider the 2.75% pay offer to be the end of the negotiations, and we are continuing our campaign to get more money for local government workers.
UNISON’s NJC Committee, which oversees the NJC pay negotiations and campaign on behalf of our local government and schools members for England Cymru/Wales and Northern Ireland, met on Friday to consider the local government employers’ pay offer of 2.75%, an increase of one day on the minimum level of annual leave and future discussions on stress and the minimum wage.
The committee was clear that while the employers have said this is their final offer, key matters remain unresolved.
As part of their offer, the employers said they would approach central government for more money for local government pay 2020-21. The unions have asked for more detail on what the employers plan to ask for, and that this is on a joint employer/union basis. Until we know central government’s response to the approach, we are not yet in a position to consult our members for their views on the pay offer.
We are writing to the Local Government Association, the Welsh Local Government Association and the Northern Ireland Local Government Association, who are responsible for making the approach to government for more money, making our position clear.
Until we know what extra money will be available, we have not exhausted the negotiation process.
As key workers, local government and school staff are in the forefront of the battle against Covid-19. So they deserve proper recognition and reward. UNISON will continue to campaign hard for these workers and we urge the government to provide increased funding to allow local government to give all workers a decent pay rise.