Unions representing council workers have today submitted their joint pay claim for 2026–27, calling for a wage rise of at least £3,000.
The move comes after years of real-terms pay cuts and rising workloads, which UNISON, GMB and Unite say have left many council and school employees struggling with soaring household costs.
Although staff received a 3.2% uplift this year, inflation has already outstripped that at 3.6%.
The unions warn that without an increase of £3,000 or 10% (whichever is greater) – including a proposed minimum hourly rate of £15 – councils will continue to face serious recruitment and retention problems in vital services such as social care, waste collection, and school support.
UNISON head of local government Mike Short said: ‘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.’
For more on the council workforce, download your free copy of Digital Transformation, AI and Local Government: The Case for Workforce Upskilling.
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