UNISON National response to Pay consultation Local Government

UNISON’s membership consultation on the Local Government Association’s (LGA) pay offer for 2018-20 ended on 9 March. The UNISON NJC Committee met to today to consider the response.

UNISON members have very narrowly rejected the LGA’s offer, with 50.44% voting to reject and 48.66% voting to accept it. (0.89% of ballot papers were spoilt.)

However, 62.4% of branches and 8 out of 11 Regions have voted to accept the offer.

The Committee had recommended rejection of the offer to members as the basis of the membership consultation. However, since the offer has been very narrowly rejected overall, but accepted by the majority of branches and Regions, the Committee agreed the following next steps:

In light of the results of the consultation on the 2018-20 pay offer, this NJC Committee agrees:

• To reluctantly amend its recommendation to acceptance of the pay offer
• To consult branches via Regions on the revised recommendation to accept the offer
• This consultation to be completed by 5 April 2018
• That the question to be put to branches is: ‘Do you agree with the NJC Committee’s revised decision to accept the 2018-20 NJC pay offer: Yes /No.

Branches are not being asked to re-consult members on the pay offer but seek member feedback on the NJC Committee’s question as best they can in the timescale given.

A branch circular will be issued early next week giving further details of this consultation and background information explaining the NJC Committee’s reasons for this decision.

With best wishes

Heather Wakefield
National Secretary
Local Government, Police and Justice Section