Any pay rise above the 3.2% now on the table for council workers would be “well beyond” the level of affordability of many authorities, local government employers have said.
The three major unions representing council workers in England have requested a pay increase of at least 10% in 2024-25 amid “growing anger” over low wages.
A fair and funded pay rise for council workers would help to alleviate some of the financial strain on authorities and improve recruitment and retention, a senior union official has said.
Scottish council leaders have claimed the latest local government pay offer is fair and recognises the importance of the workforce, despite opposition from unions.
The three major unions representing council workers in England have requested an above inflation pay offer for 2023-24, to start reversing “years of pay erosion”.
Council workers in most of the UK will receive a £1,925 increase to their salaries this year, after the majority of unions voted to accept a pay offer following months of negotiations.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has reached an agreement with local government unions, avoiding the resumption of strike action but facing criticism for “unnecessary” delays.
Scottish local government leaders have rejected claims from a union that they missed a crucial meeting to discuss the 2022-23 pay offer amid looming industrial action.
The lowest-paid workers at a city council could receive pay rises of over 9% this year as part of plans drawn up to help staff through the cost-of-living crisis.
The three major unions representing council workers in England have requested a “substantial pay rise” this year to help mitigate the impact of soaring inflation on their members.
Council workers in Scotland look increasingly likely to take industrial action if demands for a larger pay rise amid high inflation are not met, according to a union official.
