A 1% pay offer for local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is “unacceptable” and makes industrial action “invevitable”, the joint unions warned this week.
The joint unions – who include UNISON, Unite and the GMB – met on Wednesday to discuss the employers’ refusal to make an offer, the likelihood of any offer being limited to 1% overall and employers attempts to link pay talks the link to the national minimum wage.
The joint trade union side declared that it:
- “deplores the employers’ failure to make an offer on 14 February 2014 and their statement on 21 February 2014 that a 1% remit was not negotiable;
- “rejects any pegging of NJC pay to the national minimum wage;
- “reiterates the view expressed by our members last year that 1% for 2014/15 would not be acceptable.
“In light of the above, the NJC trade union side believes industrial action looks inevitable and we are preparing accordingly.”
