The full and final pay offer was officially confirmed by the National Employers on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025. Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to know:
On the 31st of January 2025, UNISON, GMB and Unite lodged their pay claim for the following:
• An increase of at least £3,000 across all National Joint Council (NJC) spinal column points
• A clear plan to reach a minimum pay rate of £15 an hour
• One extra day of annual leave for all staff
• A reduction in the working week by two hours, with no loss of pay
• The ability for school staff to take [at least] one day of their annual leave during term time, with no loss of pay
Virtual pay consultation briefings were very well attended, and the National Employers met initially to discuss themes and then adjourned for private political discussions before reconvening on Tuesday 22nd April 2025. The national Employers agreed by a majority to make the following one-year ( 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026), the full and final offer to the unions representing the main local government NJC workforce.
The full and final offer includes the following:
• An increase of 3.2% to be paid as a consolidated, permanent additional on all NJC pay points 2 to 43 inclusive and on all pay points above the maximum of the pay spine but graded below deputy chief officer.
• An increase of 3.2% will also be added onto all allowances.
• With effect from 01 April 2026, pay point 2 will be deleted from the NJC pay spine.
This means that from 1st April 2025, the bottom rate of pay will be £12.65. This offer means that an employee who was on the bottom pay point in April 2021 will have received a £6,080 pay increase, over the 4 years to April 2025.
The recognised unions will now consult with their members, and formal ballots may follow. Schools and trusts should remain alert for any updates, further information will follow when available. For a copy of the NJC pay claim for 2025-2026 please click here.
Have questions or want to discuss how this affects you? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for guidance.
