Calls for government pay talks to begin before the new year

The pay award for the 2022-23 financial year was agreed in November

Negotiations over next year's pay award for government workers should be started early, two unions have said.

Prospect and Unite have called for initial talks with the Public Services Commission before the new year.

Government workers who fall under the commission include civil servants, education support staff and manual and craft workers.

Debbie Halsall, of Unite, said it was "imperative" a deal was reached by April to help staff with rising costs.

The government has been approached for a response.

'Financially disadvantaged'

Mick Hewer, of Prospect, said while there was no set time for the negotiations to begin, talks had not tended to start before January in the past.

That could lead to agreements not being reached before the start of the new financial year.

Negotiations for the 2022-23 pay deal were not completed until early November, with the deal backdated to April.

Mr Hewer said reaching agreement before the start of the new financial year had benefits for everybody, as it prevented the need for backpay to be calculated which was a "huge operation" for the payroll team.

Debbie Halsall of Unite said: "We are fast approaching 2024 and it is imperative that negotiations commence now so that we are not in a position whereby our members are financially disadvantaged during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and periods of continuing high inflation."

Echoing those comments, Mr Hewer called for the Treasury to "ensure that adequate funding is identified for inclusion in the 2024 budget statement" to allow for pay awards that were not below inflation.

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