Full text
25 February 2026
Dear David
Soulbury Pay
After consultation with members following the Soulbury Committee meeting on 21 January and the formal response from the Employers' Side on 29 January refusing to improve the pay offer, I write to confirm that the Officers' Side accepts the pay offer. Nevertheless, we are hugely disappointed at this outcome which will impose yet another real terms pay cut on Soulbury Officers and damage further the value of Soulbury pay relative to teacher pay. Soulbury Officer pay does not properly value their contribution and skills.
The unions set out a strong case in our pay claim and at the Soulbury Committee for urgent reversal of the real terms pay cuts. This is vital. Without significant improvements in Soulbury pay levels, the recruitment and retention problems we already see will deepen. We will continue to focus on the improvements to pay levels and pay structure that are needed.
The unions have also been clear about the major problems in the negotiation process. Last year we sent the joint pay claim in June, but we did not get a formal response until October. There were further delays before the Soulbury Committee meeting took place in January. We wish to see major improvements in the process for the next round.
We will send the joint union pay claim for 2026-27 by the end of March. We wish to see a formal response from the Employers' Side in time to have meaningful negotiations including meetings of the Soulbury Committee in the summer term. These negotiations need to take place with the objective of successful resolution in time for Soulbury Officers to get their pay increase in September instead of having it delayed by months.
We will be calling on the Employers' Side to engage meaningfully with the evidence we will present, including the cost implications of allowing the value of Soulbury pay to decline against inflation and teacher pay. We will also be seeking full transparency from your side to support your position. This must include an approach to funding issues which takes full account of all relevant factors including the opportunity costs of failing to repair the damage to Soulbury pay. This damage drives recruitment and retention problems, leading to huge agency costs for local authorities.
The unions remain willing to campaign jointly with the Employers’ Side for more Government investment in the vital work of Soulbury Officers. We nevertheless remain clear that local authorities must play their part in ensuring appropriate investment for this vital group of workers.
I look forward to your urgent response so that the pay increase for Soulbury Officers is not delayed further. The unions call for the pay increase to be implemented and appropriately backdated as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely
DAVID POWELL
Officers’ Side Secretary