Civil servants in Northern Ireland have been offered a pay rise of 9% over 20 months.
Finance minister Caoimhe Archibald today announced the pay offer for officials in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, which covers the period 1 August 2024 to 31 March 2026.
The offer – made following negotiations with civil service unions – includes a 3% consolidated increase with effect from 1 August 2024 and a 6% consolidated increase with effect from 1 August 2025.
Archibald said: “I am committed to ensuring civil servants receive pay which recognises the valuable role they play in public service delivery. This 20-month offer is a first step towards longer term pay deals giving certainty to workers. The pay offer made today is a positive one that I hope will be well received by staff and unions.
“Given the current budgetary challenges, I regret that I am unable to make a higher pay offer for 2024 that is at the same level as other public sector workers.
“Transformation of our public services will require the expertise of our staff. This offer if accepted would mean the majority of civil servants eligible for both pay awards will receive at least 9% increase on salaries over the 20 months recognising their vital work in delivering public services here.”
Subject to eligibility, the offer includes:
- Contractual performance-related progression
- Bringing up the pay of the lowest paid staff (administrative assistant and analogous grades, including Industrial 1 staff) to the Living Wage Foundation rates of £12.60 an hour or £24,336 annually
- All other eligible staff to receive a consolidated increase of 3% with effect from 1 August 2024 and 6% with effect from 1 August 2025
- A series of improvements to allowances and other important terms and conditions such as maternity and adoption pay to be detailed during 2025.
NIPSA general secretary Carmel Gates said the pay offer will mean that, by 1 August, civil servants in Northern Ireland will have received a third consecutive above-inflation pay award. She said this "will go some way to address the scandalous pay cuts of the last decade".
Last year, unions agreed to a 5% pay rise and £1,500 lump sum for most NICS officials. The year before that, NICS officials awarded an across-the-board £552 pay adjustment.