Unions representing local government staff have submitted their joint pay claim for 2026–27, calling for a wage rise of at least £3,000 to address years of real-terms pay cuts and growing workload pressures.
UNISON, GMB and Unite say many council and school employees are being pushed to the limit as household costs continue to soar. Although workers received a 3.2% uplift this year, inflation has already surpassed that figure, rising to 3.6%.
The unions argue that without an increase of £3,000 or 10% (whichever is higher) – alongside a minimum hourly wage of £15 – councils will continue to struggle with severe recruitment and retention problems across essential services, including social care, waste collection and school support roles.
UNISON’s 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.’
Unions warn that without urgent action, the growing staffing pressures could further undermine the delivery of frontline public services relied upon by millions of families across the UK.
