16 February 2021The NJC unions (UNISON, GMB and Unite) have lodged pay and terms and conditions claims for local government (‘Green Book’) staff for 2021 which seek:
- A substantial increase with a minimum of 10% on all spinal column points
- Introduction of a homeworking allowance for all staff who are working from home
- A national minimum agreement on homeworking policies for all councils
- A reduction of the working week to 35 hours with no loss of pay, and a reduction to 34 hours a week in London. Part-time staff to be given a choice of a pro rata reduction, or retaining the same hours and being paid a higher percentage of FTE
- A minimum of 25 days annual leave, plus public holidays and statutory days, for all starting employees, plus an extra day holiday on all other holiday rates that depend on service
- An agreement on a best practice national programme of mental health support for all local authorities
- A joint review of the provisions in the Green Book for maternity / paternity / shared parental / adoption leave
Timeline
The National Employers will be meeting later this week for an initial discussion. Councils will then be consulted during March at the round of virtual regional pay consultation briefings. The National Employers will consider the feedback received before responding formally to the unions claim, on a date yet to be agreed, but this could possibly be in April or May. The pay anniversary date will have passed once again, but any increase should be backdated to 1st April 2021.
