NJC pay claim 2016/17

August 2016 update - Please note there have been further updates since NICVA published this article in January 2016. For 2016 - 2018 payscales please see latest information here.

NJC payscales are local government pay scales, which are extensively used in the voluntary and community sector. They result from negotiations between trade unions and Local Government Employers and apply in Northern Ireland, England and Wales. The NJC payscales in operation until 31 March 2016 can be found here.

As well as planning for the introduction of the compulsory National Living Wage for those aged 25 and over, those in the voluntary and community sector who follow NJC pay will be keen to budget for any cost of living increase which may be applied from 1 April 2016. However no agreement has been reached betwen the employer and trade union sides as yet.

The trade union side submitted a pay claim for 2016/17 for the deletion of NJC and all local pay points which fall below the level of the UK Living Wage and a flat rate increase of £1 per hour on all other pay points. The employer's side has responded with an offer of a one per cent uplift on 1 April 2016 and a further one per cent on 1 April 2017 for those on salaries starting at £17,714 per annum. The proposal is that those on lower salaries would receive higher increases to take account of the new National Living Wage. For full details click here.

The trade unions are currently consulting their local government members on the offer and we will provide an update on the NICVA website when the NJC payscales for 2016/17 have been agreed.