BRITAIN’S three biggest general unions have submitted an annual pay claim for a £3,000 pay rise for all council staff.

In a joint statement today, Unison, Unite and GMB said that a substantial award is essential as staff continue to struggle with rising living costs.

They have also missed out on the higher wage settlements paid out to workers in other parts of the public sector in the past year, the unions said, with their 2024-25 wage settlement averaging 2.5 per cent.

This is despite council staff having seen 25 per cent wiped from the value of their pay since 2010, said the unions, who represent 1.4 million council and school employees in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Their joint 2025/26 pay claim, which would apply from this April, also calls for all council staff to receive a minimum hourly rate of £15, an extra day of annual leave, a reduction of two hours in the working week and for school staff to have the right to take at least one day of leave within term time.

Unison head of local government Mike Short said: “Services provided by council and school workers are vital for communities to thrive.

“But wages have remained low, and without decent pay, staff feel undervalued and are looking for better-paid work elsewhere. A proper pay offer is essential.

“It’s bad news for everyone if there aren’t enough council and school employees to keep neighbourhoods safe, care for vulnerable people and give pupils the education they need.”

Unite national officer for local government Clare Keogh said: “After years of real-term pay cuts, local government employers need to recognise that there is growing anger among workers, especially the lowest paid, about the way they are treated year after year.

“Employers must meaningfully negotiate this year to ensure a decent pay rise.”

GMB national officer Sharon Wilde said: “It’s essential our school support staff, local authority and council workers are offered a decent pay rise for this year.

“It is vital that central government invests in the schools and local government workforce.

“GMB members tell us low pay, funding cuts and increasing workloads are the biggest issues facing them and their colleagues at work.

“A decent pay rise is needed for staff to feel valued at work and to retain these vital public-sector workers who are essential to our society.”