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Latest information on the 2023 to 2024 pay award

25 May 2023

Pay awards for council employees are negotiated on a national basis with other councils across the country including Derbyshire, through a local government organisation known as 'national employers'.


Information for colleagues about the current position and the trade unions' response nationally.

The current national offer

Following national negotiations, the national employers' organisation has presented its final offer to the trade unions.

Here is an outline of how the pay offer, if accepted nationally, would increase Derbyshire pay scales, with effect from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024:

  • colleagues on grades 1 to 13: an increase of £1,925 (pro rata for part-time employees)
  • colleagues on grades 14 to 16: an increase of 3.88%
  • in addition, an increase of 3.88% on all flat-rate allowances is proposed, which would include payments such as standby, sleep-in and first aid

This offer would provide a lowest rate of pay of £11.59 per hour with effect from 1 April 2023.

The current national pay offer, if accepted, would represent an increase ranging from 9.50% at grade 1/2 to 3.88% at grade 16. Here is a more detailed breakdown of the proposed average increases:

Table showing breakdown of proposed average wage increases
GradeNumber of current employeesAverage % increase
Grade 1 to 9 (plus apprentices) 7,740 8.31%
Grade 10 to 13 2,392 5.09%
Grade 14 to 16 179 3.88%
All grades 10,311 6.94%

The pay offer for the most senior officers (grade 17 and above) has already been accepted nationally at 3.50%.

Trade union response

All 3 recognised trade unions have now confirmed to the national employers' organisation that they have rejected the offer. Approximately 23% of our employees are members of a recognised trade union.

Unison has announced a ballot for industrial action. We understand the ballot will take place from 23 May to 4 July 2023. Unison have indicated that strike action could be taken at individual councils or schools where there is a turnout of more than 50% and members vote in favour of strike action.

The GMB and Unite trade unions have consulted their members, who have voted to reject the offer. GMB has indicated that if negotiations are not re-opened with the national employers, they will move to industrial action ballots. Unite has stated it plans to conduct formal ballots for strike action with voting opening in late May.

Trade union members will be contacted direct by their union regarding any strike ballot arrangements.

We will continue to keep all our colleagues informed about the national picture.