Update on Pay.
The Director of Corporate Resources will provide a verbal update on this item.
Minutes:
The
Director of Corporate Resources provided a verbal update on Local Government
pay arrangements following an update from The National Employers.
Members
were informed that:
i.
Negotiations for the 2021/22 Local Government
pay arrangements had been ongoing since early 2021 and remained unresolved. The
initial trade union request was for a 10% pay increase across the board.
ii.
In relation to the National Joint
Council negotiations, the National Employers made a final offer in July 2021 of
a 1.75% pay increase at pay points 2 and above, 2.75% to those on pay point .The National
Joint Council offer also included offers of joint discussions on term time only arrangements, homeworking,
mental health joint guidance, and maternity and other related leave. In
relation to the Joint National Councils for Chief Officers and Chief
Executives, a 1.5% increase was tabled.
iii.
All three union bodies (Unison,
Unite and GMB) had rejected the offer and had moved to ballot their members on
strike action. Unison had completed its ballot which resulted in no strike
action due to less than 50% of members taking part in the ballot. Unite had an
ongoing ballot. GMB had not yet started to ballot members.
iv.
The National Employers were now
considering how to proceed.
It was
noted that there would be a possibility for tax implications if a backdated pay
award was provided in tax year 2022-23. A pay award in the next tax year would
also coincide with planned changes to rates of National Insurance contribution.
The
Committee would be notified when an agreement on pay
arrangements had been made. In the event that a deal
was accepted, or that the Council chose to implement an award to its own
employees, before a meeting of the next Employment Committee, the Director of
Corporate Resources would write to the Chair of the Committee and opposition
party Spokesman to seek approval. A report would then be presented at the next
Committee.
RESOLVED:
That the update on
Local Government pay arrangements be noted.