Understanding the 2023 NJC Pay Campaign for Council and School Workers
The 2023 NJC Pay Campaign for council and school workers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland includes an increase of RPI + 2% on all NJC pay points. The employers have offered a flat rate increase of £1,925, but this offer is below the current RPI inflation rate. Learn more about the NJC pay spine, RPI measurement, and details of the offer in this campaign.
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2023 NJC Pay Campaign For council and school workers In England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Our 2023/24 NJC pay claim was for: An increase of RPI + 2% (worth 12.7%) on all NJC pay points The employers have offered: A flat rate increase of 1,925, on all NJC pay points
NJC pay explained The NJC pay spine includes pay points from SCP 2-43* A new pay spine was introduced in April 2019 Used by councils and schools to construct local pay grades UNISON, with GMB and Unite, submit an annual pay claim to the Local Government Association who represent employers The pay increase is applied to the NJC pay spine London and a few other councils have their own pay spines (NJC increases are applied) *as part of the 2022 pay settlement, SCP 1 was deleted from 1 April 2023
What is RPI? The Retail Prices Index (RPI) measures the cost of living It tracks changes in the cost of a fixed basket of goods UNISON believes RPI is the most accurate measure of inflation faced by workers The Consumer Prices Index (CPI), the other widely quoted figure for inflation, understates the real level of inflation The RPI figure used in our pay claim is the Office for Budget Responsibility s (OBR) latest annual forecast for 2023, currently 10.7%, as published in November 2022 (latest annual forecast at the time of producing the claim)
What have the employers offered? On 23 February, the national employers responded to our pay claim with a full and final offer of 1,925, paid on all NJC pay points (2 to 43) from 1 April 2023 This offer is worth between 9.4% (at the bottom of the NJC pay spine) and 3.9% (at the top of the pay spine) As of March 2023, RPI inflation is 13.8% This means the offer is well below both inflation and our pay claim
What is the offer worth? This table shows the value of the pay offer measured against the current cost of living (RPI inflation) Your current pay The employers offer RPI Feb 2023 How much are you losing? 2022 Annual 2022 Hourly 2023 Annual 2023 Hourly Percentage Increase SCP Offer 2 20,441.47 10.60 1,925 22,366.47 11.59 9.42% 13.8% -4.38% 5 21,574.96 11.18 1,925 23,499.96 12.18 8.92% 13.8% -4.88% 10 23,620.14 12.24 1,925 25,545.14 13.24 8.15% 13.8% -5.65% 20 28,370.84 14.71 1,925 30,295.84 15.70 6.79% 13.8% -7.01% 30 36,298.19 18.81 1,925 38,223.19 19.81 5.30% 13.8% -8.50% 43 49,589.79 25.70 1,925 51,514.79 26.70 3.88% 13.8% -9.92%
Context of our claim Since 2010, local government workers have faced below average pay awards or pay freezes with 25% lost from the value of their pay In the last year, gas prices rose by 132%,electricity by 66%, mortgage interest payments by 26%, petrol by 22% Over the same period the value of staff pay fell by 4.6% HMRC mileage rates have remained frozen since 2011, over the same period petrol costs have risen by 43% 81% of authorities are concerned about staffing capacity Over half the cost of this pay claim would be recouped by the government via taxes and reduced benefit payments
The cost of living crisis Rapid inflation is pushing up prices faster than wages The latest 2022 NJC pay award of 1,925 was completely wiped out by rising household costs Local government workers are experiencing the fastest fall in living standards since records began Members are skipping meals, not running the heating or relying on foodbanks This crisis will burden local government workers with debt that will be carried with them for years
The impact on our members Since 2010, NJC pay awards have failed to keep up with the cost of living (retail price index): NJC pay increases Vs cost of living (RPI) 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 NJC pay increases Rise in cost of living (as measured by Retail Prices Index)
NJC pay at the bottom The Foundation Living Wage rate is now 10.90 an hour for the UK and 11.95 for London NJC SCP 2 and SCP 3 now both fall below 10.90 This is what an RPI+2% increase would do to those SCPs: SCP 2 3 2022 Annual 2022 Hourly 2023 Annual 2023 Hourly 20,441.47 10.60 20,811.84 10.79 23,037.53 23,454.94 11.94 12.16
What happens next The NJC pay claim was submitted on 30 January and the employers responded with their offer on 23 February UNISON's NJC committee rejected the pay offer - which fell short of both the cost of living/inflation and our claim UNISON s NJC committee decided to move to a disaggregated, industrial action ballot over the pay offer UNISON is balloting members, asking if you wish to take industrial action strike action - over pay Taking action will send a clear message to employers that you need a better pay rise Ballot papers will be posted from the last week in May
The ballot Starting from the last week in May, you will receive a paper ballot in the post Most council and school workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be balloted (NI may have a different timetable due to government rules) The ballot will ask one question: Do you wish to take strike action over pay? (Yes/No) By law, we need a turnout of at least 50%, otherwise no action can happen Your completed ballot must be returned by post (a freepost envelope is provided) by 4 July
Join the campaign and get ballot ready Make sure that you get your vote and that your voice is heard Check that your details are correct and up to date - it takes two minutes at: unison.org.uk/my-unison Please check that the following are correct: Your home address (to receive the ballot in the post) Your employer, workplace and job title Your email address Your mobile phone number (choose: edit Personal details )
Join the campaign and get ballot ready Get colleagues involved if they aren t members already, they can join online (it takes five minutes): join.unison.org.uk New members joining by 21 June will get a vote. Talk to friends and colleagues - use the online resources to promote the campaign: unison.org.uk/payup2023 Share our branded graphics and videos via the hashtag #PayUp2023 Download or print materials for workplaces, such as leaflets and posters at unison.org.uk/payup2023 Ask your branch to become a pay campaign contact then you can keep your colleagues up to date (RMS 109)
