NJC pay spine review: terms of reference

Trade Union Secretaries
Kevin Brandstatter, GMB, 
Clare Keogh, Unite
Mike Short, UNISON

Address for correspondence
UNISON Centre
130 Euston Road
London NW1 2AY
Tel: 0845 3550845
[email protected]

Employers’ Secretary
Naomi Cooke

Address for correspondence
Local Government Association
18 Smith Square
London SW1P 3HZ
Tel: 020 7664 3000
[email protected]

To: Chief Executives in England, Wales and N Ireland
(to be shared with Finance Director and HR Director)
Regional Employer Organisations
Members of the National Joint Council
    
18 May 2026

Dear Chief Executive,

Review of the NJC ‘Green Book’ pay spine

You will recall that as part of the 2023/24 pay deal, the NJC agreed to conduct a review of the NJC pay spine. The primary reason for this review is the continuing pressure from the proximity of the National Living Wage to the bottom pay points on the spine. The agreed Terms of Reference for the review are below.

The Joint Secretaries do not underestimate the challenge we face in designing a restructured pay spine that is capable of withstanding annual changes to the National Living Wage rate (without the need for regular fundamental reviews) whilst retaining its current flexibility for local employers to apply local pay and grading structures. It is important to state from the outset that a restructured pay spine will not be possible without some additional cost for councils. However, both Sides will endeavour to achieve an outcome that is financially viable for employers and fair to employees.

You may recall the last time we reviewed the pay spine: terms of reference were agreed in August 2016, and agreement was reached in April 2018 on the design of a new pay spine. Employers then had twelve months in order to make all the necessary arrangements to assimilate to the new spine, which took effect on 1 April 2019.

This time, however, there are additional complications that we will need to take into account, especially because of the potential for all these things to happen at around the same time: the reinstatement (in England only) of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, and the creation (also in England only) of the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body, both of which could result in a total of around 400,000 staff being moved out of the current NJC bargaining arrangements; and local government reorganisation, which will also impact many councils in England.

We will schedule regular meetings for the foreseeable future and would aim to conclude our review by 31 March 2027. The review will take place alongside but is not intended to form part of our discussions on this year’s pay round. Both Sides will liaise with colleagues who have practical and technical expertise in the design and use of pay and grading structures and who will advise the Joint Secretaries during the review process.

Throughout the course of the review the Joint Secretaries will keep their respective constituents updated on developments. However, for obvious reasons we will not be able to give a ‘running commentary’ on our discussions. Before any final agreement is reached, the proposed restructured pay spine will be subject to full consultation with councils and union members.

Yours faithfully,

Naomi Cooke, Kevin Brandstatter, Clare Keogh, Mike Short.

NJC pay spine review: Terms of reference

The NJC needs to meet the challenge of ensuring that a restructured pay spine is capable of withstanding annual changes to the National Living Wage rate without the need for regular and fundamental reviews of pay structures. The spine is a valuable foundation on which individual councils build the detail of their local grading structures, which in themselves need adapting to new forms of service integration and devolution. 

To take forward this review, the Joint Secretaries will set up a working group with the following aims:

To ensure the restructured NJC pay spine is capable of:

  • accommodating changes to the National Living Wage rate
  • adapting to differentials in levels of pay and responsibility
  • accommodating all local government services roles within scope of the NJC
  • managing the assimilation of other roles that are transferred locally to Green Book pay structures
  • being used locally to recognise contribution and progression 

To ensure the NJC pay spine remains: 

  • compliant with the requirements of the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill
  • consistent with single status principles.

To ensure review outcomes: 

  • have firm timescales for completion
  • take into account the potential impact on pay arrangements in London 
  • are financially viable for employers and fair to employees.

Additional input:

  • To support the review, the Joint Secretaries will be advised by colleagues who have practical and technical expertise in the design and use of pay and grading structures.