1% derisory Local Government pay offer

After three years of a total pay freeze, preceded by many years of low settlements, the value of pay has fallen by around 16% since 2010 and is now worth in real terms over 10% less than it was in 1996 the North West Local Government Service Group is urging all members to take part in the consultation and to Reject the offer

Inflation is running at around 3% so an offer of just 1% is actually a pay cut of 2%. And the government has already signalled at least another three years of severe pay restraint for public sector workers (which will include all those working in the private and voluntary sector on NJC conditioned pay).

If you are in a pension scheme linked to earnings this continual reduction in living standards will also see your pension value reduced for the rest of your life.

Is it any wonder that in a recent survey 53% of UNISON members reported they were in debt, with 11% owing more than £20,000.

NJC pay has sunk so low that in October of this year the lowest point would be overtaken by the National Minimum Wage.

At this rate by the end of the decade the real value of your pay will have fallen by around 30%.

Despite countless research materials supporting the case for fair pay the NJC Employers’ and the government will not do anything about it. This is not going to change unless we do something about it ourselves, collectively.

That’s why UNISON is now consulting members on whether to accept this insulting offer from the NJC Employers or reject it and commit to action.