Introduction:
The National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services has recently unveiled the updated pay scales for the fiscal year 2023/24, set to be implemented on April 1, 2023. This latest NJC pay agreement represents a substantial increase in the salaries of over 1 million local government workers across the United Kingdom. In this blog post, we will delve into the primary features of the revised NJC pay scales and explore the implications of these changes for employees operating under the NJC agreement in the local government sector.
NJC Pay Award for 2023/24
For 2023/24, the NJC has agreed to an overall pay increase of 10.5% for local government workers. This includes a general consolidated pay rise of 7.5% and a 3% increase to reflect the rising cost of living. The significant pay hike comes after years of below-inflation pay rises for local government staff and is aimed at helping to recruit and retain employees amidst a growing staffing crisis in the sector.
With inflation running at 10.1%, the large NJC pay rise will provide relief to local government workers who have seen their real earnings eroded by the soaring cost of living. The NJC pay award covers over 1 million employees ranging from street cleaners and refuse collectors to social workers and planners.
Key Highlights of New NJC Pay Scales
Here are some of the key features of the new NJC pay scales for 2023/24:
- The minimum pay for the lowest paid full-time local government employees will rise from £19,264 to £20,852, an increase of 8.2%.
- The maximum pay at the top of the local government pay scales will rise from £45,876 to £50,976.
- There will be a flat-rate increase of £1925 for all spinal column points. This replaces the previous practice of percentage increases to pay scales.
- The lowest pay point on the national salary framework will be scrapped. The starting point will now be SCP 2.
- Allowances for working unsocial hours like night shifts will increase by 21%.
- Mileage allowances will go up by 10 pence per mile for car users.
Pay Increases for Different Roles
The NJC pay deal provides varying levels of pay rises for employees depending on their roles and responsibilities. Here are some examples:
- Cleaners, caretakers, park attendants – Increase from £19,264 to £20,852 (8.2%)
- Office staff, accountants – Increase from £25,419 to £28,226 (11%)
- Librarians, housing officers – Increase from £28,226 to £31,346 (11%)
- Engineers, social workers – Increase from £32,910 to £36,922 (12.2%)
- Middle managers – Increase from £39,880 to £44,863 (12.5%)
- Directors, chief officers – Increase from £45,876 to £50,976 (11%)
The higher pay awards for more skilled and managerial roles aim to retain experienced staff and aid recruitment.
Conclusion:
The new NJC pay scales provide a timely boost for hardworking local government employees after years of below-inflation rises. The pay increases aim to protect earnings. They also aim to address recruitment and retention problems. The deal shows commitment to reward public sector workers properly. These workers have endured challenging times. These times include the pandemic and cost crisis. The improved pay scales are an investment. This investment is in vital local services. The local elections are coming up in 2023.
