Mid and East Antrim Council Services Could Face Disruption After Pay Offer Rejected

Council Members Warned About Possible Industrial Action

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council services could be affected by industrial action later this year after trade unions rejected a national pay proposal.

Councillors received an update on the 2026/27 local government pay negotiations during a meeting of the Corporate Resources, Policy and Governance Committee at The Braid in Ballymena.

The update covered pay negotiations involving council chief executives, chief officers and employees whose conditions are set through the National Joint Council.

The National Joint Council, commonly known as the NJC, is the body through which local government employers and trade unions negotiate pay and employment conditions.

What Was Included in the Council Staff Pay Offer?

Employees covered by the NJC were offered:

• A 3.3% increase on all pay points
• A 3.3% increase to relevant allowances
• Backdating of the increase to 1 April 2026

The proposal was presented by the National Employers as a full and final offer for one year.

However, the offer has been rejected by UNISON, Unite and GMB.

Trade unions have argued that the proposed increase does not adequately address the financial pressures facing council employees or the impact of previous below-inflation settlements.

The employers’ side has maintained that the offer must remain affordable for local authorities.

Mid and East Antrim Council Cannot Change the National Offer

The council committee was advised that Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is not able to amend the national pay proposal independently.

The offer was negotiated at a national level for council and school employees across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Therefore, the council cannot introduce changes to the national settlement solely for its own NJC employees.

The report presented to councillors warned that targeted industrial action could affect some council services later in the year.

However, this remains a possibility rather than a confirmed outcome.

UNISON Strike Ballot Planned in Northern Ireland

UNISON has confirmed that selected council and school employees will be balloted over potential strike action.

The union’s ballot in Northern Ireland is scheduled to run from 8 September until 13 October 2026.

UNISON has said it will recommend that participating members vote in favour of industrial action.

Unite has also been balloting council employees in selected local authorities elsewhere in the UK. GMB has indicated that further consultation will take place at a local level.

A successful ballot would not necessarily mean that immediate strike action would follow. Trade unions would still have to decide whether to call action and provide the legally required notice.

Which Mid and East Antrim Council Services Could Be Affected?

The committee report did not identify specific Mid and East Antrim services that would be disrupted.

Across local government, NJC employees work in areas including:

• Waste and recycling
• Street cleaning
• Leisure facilities
• Parks and open spaces
• Administrative services
• Community services
• Environmental services
• Planning and customer support

Any effect on local services would depend on which employees were balloted, the result of that ballot and the type of action later authorised.

Residents should continue using council services as normal unless Mid and East Antrim Borough Council issues an official service update.