Unions have officially agreed to the local government pay deal for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland for this year, putting an end to a prolonged disagreement.
UNISON has confirmed that a consensus among unions has been reached, and they have collectively approved the employers' proposal, which includes a £1,925 salary increase for employees earning up to £49,950 outside the capital, along with a 3.88% salary raise for those earning above that threshold. Staff in outer London will see their pay increase by £2,226, while inner London colleagues will enjoy a £2,352 salary boost up to a specific income threshold.
It's worth noting that, while UNISON and the GMB have formally accepted the terms, Unite has not yet added its endorsement to the agreement. However, the approval of the other two unions is adequate to move forward with the deal.
The pay agreement has been backdated from April 1, 2023, and will affect the majority of authorities responsible for social services in England and Wales, falling under the National Joint Council for Local Government Services (NJC).
What does this mean for social workers?
For a Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW) working outside of London at pay point 23 with an annual salary of £30,151, their pay would increase by £1,925, representing a 6.4% raise.
An experienced social worker outside of London at pay point 32, earning £38,296, would experience a pay increase of £1,925, equating to a 5% raise.
For a team manager with an annual salary of £51,832 working outside of London, their pay would rise by £2,011, reflecting a 3.88% increase.
This dispute has been ongoing since January 2023, when unions asked for 12.7% rise to match inflation.
While unions have now accepted the offer, UNISON conducted a ballot among its members over the summer regarding potential industrial action, however, members of GMB and Unite rejected the offer.
Looking ahead to 2024, UNISON said: “The fight to restore local government pay will continue and we plan to be stronger than ever to get fair pay for council and school workers.”
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