Caoimhe Archibald’s new pay offer aims to support civil servants through 2026
Stormont: So, here’s the scoop. Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald just dropped a new pay offer for civil servants. It’s a 20-month deal that goes back to August last year and runs until March 2026.
She’s been chatting with the unions and came up with a plan that includes a 3% pay bump starting last August and another 6% increase set for August 2025. Pretty neat, right?
Archibald mentioned that she really wants to make sure civil servants get paid fairly for the important work they do. This offer is just the first step toward more long-term pay solutions.
She hopes everyone will see this as a positive move. But, she did say that due to budget issues, she can’t offer as much for 2024 as other public sector workers are getting.
She also pointed out that to improve public services, they need the skills and expertise of their staff. If this offer gets the green light, most civil servants could see at least a 9% salary increase over the next 20 months.
Now, here’s what’s included in the offer: there’s performance-related pay progression, raising the lowest salaries to £12.60 an hour, and a 3% increase for eligible staff starting in August 2024, plus that 6% bump in 2025.
They’re also planning to improve allowances and other important benefits like maternity and adoption pay, with more details coming in 2025. Sounds like a solid plan to me!
