Backdated pay - action needed
Most support staff employers follow the National Joint Council (NJC) pay arrangements set out in the Green Book. As such, the support staff pay award is implemented according to the financial year (beginning from April) whereas teachers’ pay follows the academic year (beginning from September). This means that any pay increase for support staff should be backdated to 1st April.
Once the pay claim has been agreed nationally by the NJC unions, members and reps should seek confirmation from their Headteacher that the pay award will be honoured and backdated in full.
If your pay is not backdated to April every year, speak to your NEU rep. If you do not have a rep, contact your local branch or district for assistance. The NEU has successfully supported members in taking collective action to secure thousands of pounds' worth of back pay.
Backdated pay award and its impact on Universal Credit
If the support staff pay award is backdated to April but paid in a lump sum, then this has the potential to impact Universal Credit payments. To rectify this, reps and members must ensure their employer staggers any backdated pay that is due to support staff. The NEU does not recommend a specific time frame for staggered pay, however, a period of three months may be suitable in most cases, depending on individual circumstances.
Action for members and reps
Reps should meet with support staff members and collectively submit the model letter(s) to ensure that support staff in receipt of Universal Credit are not negatively impacted and still get the pay they are owed.