As you are aware, the JTUS of the NJC submitted its pay claim on behalf of members working in the NJC Sector towards the end of February. The pay claim consisted of the following elements:
- An increase of at least £3,000 or 10% (whichever is greater) on all spinal column points
- Reviews of the gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps in local government
- A 2-hour reduction in the working week with no detriment
- An additional day of annual leave for personal or well-being purposes (with term time only staff also receiving a full day rather than a pro rata amount, that they can use at any time, including term time)
- A phased approach to reaching a minimum pay rate of £15 an hour in a maximum of two years, sooner if possible.
The NJC Employers’ Side Secretary has today written to the TUS Secretaries in response to the above claim, which is attached for your information.
In summary, the pay offer received states the following:
“The National Employers wish to make the following full and final, one-year (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025) offer:
- With effect from 1 April 2024, an increase of £1,290 (pro rata for part-time employees) to be paid as a consolidated, permanent addition on all NJC pay points 2 to 43 inclusive. The equivalent percentage increases to each pay point are shown at Annex A.
- With effect from 1 April 2024, an increase of 2.50 per cent on all pay points above the maximum of the pay spine but graded below deputy chief officer (in accordance with Green Book Part 2 Para 5.41).
- With effect from 1 April 2024 an increase of 2.50 per cent on all allowances (as listed in the 2023 NJC pay agreement circular dated 1 November 2023).”
All other elements contained within the JTUS Pay Claim for this year have been rejected, as you will see from the attached correspondence. Annex A provides the changes that the offer would make to the NJC Pay spine. Once again, the offer is tabled as a “full and final offer” by the Employers’ Side. I understand that the offer has also been communicated to the CEOs of NJC areas today.
The trade unions will take the necessary time to consider this offer and its status and further information will be shared once available.
Yours sincerely
Kim Smyth
NIPSA Assistant Secretary
See attached PDF for full details of the offer.