28.04.16
Unison becomes second union to accept council pay offer
Unison, the biggest public sector trade union, has decided to accept a two-year pay offer from local government employers following a meeting of its council representatives.
Unison now follows GMB in accepting the offer, despite having originally rejected after a consultation with members in February.
Unite is still considering whether to introduce it.
The offer, which covers the years from 2016 to 2018, includes a pay rise of between 1.01% and 6.6% in the first year and between 1.3% and 3.4% in the second year for the lowest paid (those on spinal points 6-17), to reflect the new National Living Wage.
The higher paid, on spinal points 18-49, would receive 1% in year one and the same again the following year.
The offer also includes a joint review of the National Joint Council (NJC) pay spine for local government and school workers and term-time working for school support staff.
The news comes as the 38th Annual Report on Senior Salaries warned that the lack of pay rises above 1% for senior civil servants risks making recruitment harder.