The 2025/26 pay offer was settled as described below. At least the pay settlement this year was paid early in our August pay day , and back dated to April.
The three trade unions (GMB, Unison and Unite) settled the 2025 pay negotiations.
A full and final offer of 3.2% was made by the employers without even the courtesy of a meeting. There were no negotiations at all.
GMB recommended a rejection of the offer and around 75% of the members who voted agreed with the recommendation, voting to reject the offer and to support industrial action to secure a better offer.
Following the result of the ballot, GMB wrote to the employers demanding a meeting to secure a better offer. This and a later request from all three unions was rejected by the employers who confirmed the offer was full and final.
While the vote to reject the offer was very strong, unfortunately the number of those voting fell short of what is required for a formal postal ballot for industrial action to be undertaken.
In those circumstances, GMB regions and the National Local Government and Schools Committees had no option but to vote to settle negotiations for 2025.
Joint Trade Union letter
NEXT pay claim 2026/27
The three trade unions will work with the employers on a review of the NJC pay spine as a priority given the impact of the National Living Wage.
GMB has proposed to the other trade unions that work on the 2026 pay claim be undertaken in the autumn and that we demand early face to face negotiations with the employers.
If you have any other questions, please contact NWI at: nwipublicservices@gmb.org.uk
Updates:
24/10/25 GMB National circulation
Local Government and school workers will demand a ‘significant’ pay rise for 2026, GMB Union has said.
GMB union – representing council and education staff – will submit a pay claim at the end of November, along with other unions.
In recent years the Local Government Association has maybe below inflation pay offers without even meeting unions to discuss.
Kevin Brandstatter, GMB National Officer, said:
“GMB members suffered under the last Government, with pay increases lower than inflation while funding for local government was cut.
“They feel undervalued as well as underpaid.
“Workers need a significant increase in pay to restore pay to the value it should have after the years of real terms pay cuts and it must be fully funded by the Government.”
Posted: 22nd September 2025