Unite postpones strike to allow further ballot of members

Unite the Union has agreed to postpone all strike action from 11 September to allow time for a further ballot of its members.

In a joint statement with the Government, both sides confirmed they would meet regularly to discuss public sector pay with a view to striking a multi-year agreement.

In a separate joint statement issued with all public sector trade unions, it was acknowledged that this year’s pay increase marks only the beginning of a broader process to address recent years of pay stagnation.

Following a meeting yesterday between Unite and the Government, Number Six says there remains no scope to improve the public sector pay proposal announced in this year's budget. 

However, all parties agreed that the Treaty impacted on negotiations, and that the purchasing power of public sector wages has been significantly eroded by external factors.  Furthermore, they acknowledge that  they would have wanted this year's pay proposal to have gone further, had it not been for financial constraints. 

Following a meeting yesterday, a roadmap ahead was agreed, with all parties committing to a clear timeline of monthly negotiation meetings begining this month. The focus will be to recover the real term losses in pay since August 2019 in full.

The aim now is for a sustainable, multi-year agreement commencing in the 2026/2027 financial year.

The minimum entry salary in the public sector will be increased in line with the UK, currently at £24,413, backdated to the 1st April this year. 

There will also be a review of pay differentials through the grades, as well as more broadly on the Living Wage and Zero hours contracts.

Plus a commitment to improving relations between the Government and Unite.

In a wider statement involving all public sector unions, all parties agreed to address concerns responsibly and collaboratively.

A revised roadmap of milesones will be shared and agreed with the unions, and will form the basis of future public sector pay rises.

Full statements

You can read the joint statement by the Government and Unite the Union on Public Sector Pay here.

You can read the joint statement by the Government and the public sector trade unions here.

Photo: Unite flags waved outside the Office of the Chief Minister in September 2023 as the union's members at the Gibraltar Bus Company took industrial action due to a pay dispute. Unite recently lost its negotiating rights for the Bus Company.