Update on NJC Pay 2024/25 – Council and Schools
Vote ‘Yes’ for strike action and for a decent pay rise
UNISON is balloting all council and school members on NJC pay on the Employers’ PAY offer for 2024/25.
The ballot opens on 4 September and all votes must be returned by 16 October 2024. This is a postal ballot – you cannot vote online. Your voting paper will be sent to the home address UNISON has for you and it will arrive in a large purple envelope (see picture). When yours arrives, don’t put it to one side – complete your vote, pop it in the stamped address envelope and return it asap. Your pay is too important, and every vote really does count.
The national Employer’s have only offered a measly flat rate consolidated increase of £1,575(Inner London, FTE, pro rata for part time staff) or 2.5% whatever is greater. After tax this is just ‘small change’ in our pay packets – and the cost of living crisis is not over, with domestic fuel bills projected to rise even more this winter. This is yet another real terms pay cut – on top of 15 years of cuts which have diminished the real value of our pay by 27%. For hardworking council and school support staff who provide vital public services to our community, this is just another kick in the teeth – It’s time to say enough is enough!
UNISON has been campaigning for a decent pay rise for council and school workers. We need to win an industrial action ballot to force the Employers back to the table to negotiate.
Please look at the leaflets on this website for more information on UNISON’s pay claim, the impact of the Employers’ pay offer on your pay point, the ballot timetable and what to do if your ballot paper does not arrive.
For more information: https://www.unison.org.uk/our-campaigns/fair-pay-now-council-school-workers/
What can you do?
Every member has a part to play in the fight for fair pay.
- Look out for your purple voting paper and be sure to return it asap.
- Attend a Branch meetings on PAY – two special local meetings have been set up in September to give members information about the offer and ballot: one for council workers and one for school workers. See the website for full details.
- Talk to your colleagues about what is happening with our pay and encourage them to return their vote.
- Attend the National online webinar for members on NJC PAY 2024: 11 September 2024 : 12 noon – 1pm. Details on how to register and join the meeting to be circulated shortly.
- If you have colleagues who are not UNISON members, encourage them to join the union. We are always stronger together.
- Become a Pay Champion and help to distribute publicity, person stalls and assist with leafleting. Contact the branch office for more info.
- Make sure your contact details are up to date – if you have moved address or changed your phone number, let us know asap.