Council employees have been offered a pay increase of at least £1,290, which equates to a 5.8% rise for the lowest paid.
Employers also offered chief executives and senior officers a 2.5% pay increase from 1 April 2024.
Chair of the national employers for local government services, Cllr Tim Roca, said they were ‘acutely aware’ of the added pressure this would place on ‘already hard-pressed council finances.’
However, he said the offer was ‘fair to employees’.
UNISON head of local government Mike Short said: 'Council and school staff deserve a decent pay rise for the vital support they provide to communities. But this offer falls short of the union's reasonable claim.
'Many workers will feel let down because their household bills continue to rise. UNISON will consult representatives over the coming days before deciding the next steps.'
