Unions representing 1.4 million council and school staff across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are calling for a wage rise of at least £3,000 to recognise soaring workloads and increasing household costs, they say today (Monday).
UNISON, GMB and Unite have submitted their joint annual local government pay claim for 2026-27, demanding a substantial award from April after years of effective pay cuts, which have left staff struggling to keep up with rising household bills.
The unions are warning pay for council and school staff continues to lag behind many other public services.
In turn, low wages have led to a recruitment and retention crisis while demand for key services – such as social care, children’s services and housing support – has soared.
Local authority employers gave a 3.2% uplift this year, but that has already been surpassed by inflation, which currently stands at 3.6%.
The pay claim for 2026-27 calls for an increase of at least £3,000 or 10% (whichever is greater) for all staff, as well as a minimum hourly rate of £15.
Unions say that since 2010, the real value of local government pay has fallen by more than 26%. That has left many workers finding it hard to keep pace with housing costs, food prices, transport fares and energy bills.
School staff and council workers – including refuse collectors, care workers, librarians and cleaners – provide essential services that keep communities functioning. Without a fair pay rise, unions warn experienced staff will continue to leave for better-paid jobs.
While the 2026-27 pay claim is for a one-year settlement, unions say employers should consider a multi-year deal, in keeping with a similar move in the way central government funds local authorities.
UNISON head of local government Mike Short said: “Council and school staff have endured years of poor pay settlements while demands on local services have grown.
“A significant wage rise is essential, so communities can continue to receive the support they rely on each day.
“Councils have been told they’ll receive the first multi-year funding settlement in years to give them certainty over their finances. But staff need the same assurances. Failure to deliver a meaningful pay rise will only worsen recruitment and retention problems.”
GMB national officer Kevin Brandstatter said: “GMB fully endorses this claim. In a recent poll of members nearly 90 per cent of our local government members said they would be prepared to take strike action to achieve a just settlement.
“Employers now need to show some respect to hard working employees delivering essential services to the public.
“They must now negotiate, unlike in previous years when the employers made a ‘take it or leave it’ final offer without even the courtesy of an explanation. Our members feel let down, are angry and rightly so.”
Unite national officer Clare Keogh said: “Local authorities are the backbone of our communities, but their hardworking members of staff have endured years of real terms pay cuts as more pressure is piled on to services.
“The claim the unions are putting forward will go a long way to addressing problems with low pay at local authorities, which is also leading to a hiring and retention crisis. There must also be a full review of the local government pay spine to end low pay going forward.
“This current situation with local government cannot continue. Council workers must no longer pay the price for a funding crisis in local government they did not create.”
Notes to editors:
– The 2026–27 National Joint Council pay claim seeks £3,000 or 10% (whichever is greater) on all NJC pay points for a one-year deal. The £3,000 payment would apply pro-rata for part-time staff. Other measures in claim include a two-hour reduction in the working week, an extra day of leave and the right for school staff to take at least one day of paid leave during term time.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Dan Ashley M: 07508 080349 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
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