What is happening with the pay and grading review?

This is an important update for members as some information has been circulating and members are asking what happens next.

The need for a review was first agreed in 2019 as the NJC two year deal for 2019-2021 was agreed. One of the main trade union side goals was to reduce the number of points on each pay level.

Discussion between EA and trade union side started but unfortunately the COVID pandemic emerged, and the discussions were suspended.

In the Autumn of 2022 discussions were restarted. The first challenge was to secure agreement from the Department of Education to allow the EA to open discussions. It is very important to understand that apart from the NJC pay agreement, the EA has to get the approval of DE to talk about pay.

Since then your UNISON bargaining team have, with other unions, discussed what kind of changes should be applied to the pay scales. A business case ie an application with a lot of detail that these improvements should be funded was finally prepared and unions expected this would be submitted to DE. This appears to have stalled.

Remember this is not a pay improvement offer but an agreed case for funding. It would become an offer when the EA present an offer.

The main changes unions are pursuing are   

1.Revised grading structure that standardises all grades to 4 points in length, removes overlap between grades and consolidates the administrative grades and the former ancillary and general grades into a single grading structure. 
2.Restoration of the supervisor differential to include sufficient scope to absorb anticipated increases in the National Living Wage and to address recruitment challenges in key operational posts.
3.Resolution of the Education Welfare Officer dispute.
4. Assimilation to the new scales based on the principle of next equal to or higher point.

All of this has been happening in the context of the absence of the Stormont Executive and an education minister. Trade union side has been very aware that we have never been able to get a formal commitment from DE that funding was/is definitely available.

However, your UNISON bargaining team remains determined to secure a good outcome and pay improvement.

So our next steps will be:

• to seek a meeting with the Permanent Secretary with other trade unions to push our case for funding to improve the application of the NJC pay framework
• If the stalemate continues - consult with members if you are prepared to ballot for industrial action.

We will keep you updated.

UNISON Northern Ireland Education branches.