LOCAL GOVERNMENT, COUNCIL, SCHOOLS & ACADAMIES
BALLOT OPEN FROM 20 APRIL 2026!
GMB pay ballot covering all workers across local government, school & academies that follow National Joint Council (NJC Green Book) pay, terms and conditions across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will open from Monday 20 April 2026.
GMB members will have their say on pay and we now need you to take part in this important ballot and let us know if you are prepared to accept or reject the pay offer.
The closing date for the ballot is 22 May 2026.
GMB Joint Local Government & Schools Committee
Having reviewed the full and final offer in detail, the National Joint Committees have adopted a neutral position and agreed that it is for GMB members to decide whether the offer is adequate. Members may wish to note that the employers’ side agreed to meet but presented a full and final offer instead of entering negotiations, and that the offer is not supported by any additional funding.
A vote to reject is also your vote in favour of a move to a formal industrial action ballot.
From school support staff to refuse workers, from town hall workers to social workers, hundreds of occupations are covered by this pay offer. (Approximately 1 million workers plus are covered).
2026/27 Local Government & Schools Pay offer is for one year and is as follows:
With effect from 1 April 2026:
- an increase of 3.30 per cent to be paid as a consolidated, permanent addition on all NJC pay points 3 to 43 inclusive, and on all pay points above the maximum of the pay spine but graded below deputy chief officer (in accordance with Green Book Part 2 Para 5.4 )
- an increase of 3.30 per cent on all allowances (as listed in the 2025 NJC pay agreement circular dated 24 July 2025)
The employers also responded to other elements of the pay claim as follows:
| Union Claim | Employer Response |
| A clear plan to reach a minimum pay rate of £15 an hour | Rejected |
| One extra day of annual leave for all staff | Rejected |
| A reduction in the working week by two hours, with no loss of pay | Rejected |
| The ability for school staff to take [at least] one day of their annual leave during term time, with no loss of pay | Rejected |
| The abolition of Level 1 Teaching Assistant role and instead all Level 1 role holders be moved onto Level 2 | Rejected |
GMB is now asking you to vote on the pay offer.
What happens next is up to you. We need all our members to have their say on pay. Make sure you get your ballot and vote. If you have not received your ballot, please contact your local GMB branch/office, details at GMB Regions | GMB.
Throughout this ballot we need you to help build bargaining power in your workplace so please do one or all of the following:
- Once you have voted please encourage your work colleagues to cast their vote.
- Become a GMB rep if you haven’t got one in your workplace: gmb.org.uk/become-workplace-representative
- Recruit a GMB member – colleagues not in a union? Sign them up here: gmb.org.uk/join
Would you like information on becoming a GMB Representative in your workplace? Email PublicServices@gmb.org.uk
Not a GMB member? Join today at www.gmb.org.uk/join
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