Unite Opens Ballot on Five Year Public Sector Pay Deal

Unite has announced the timetable for its public sector pay ballot ahead of a vote on the proposed 2026 - 2031 agreement.

A statement from Unite follows below:

Unite, the union for workers in Gibraltar, have today (15th July) confirmed the details of the Public Sector Pay Ballot on the proposed five year pay solution for 2026/27 to 2030/31. The union has already confirmed to members and HMGOG that the second half of the pay proposal to run from 2031/32 to 2035/36 will not be balloted on until 2031.

An E-Ballot will open at 9am on Thursday 16th July with members receiving voting links via e-mail or text to vote as to whether they accept the pay proposal for 2026/27 to 2030/31. The E-Ballot will then close at midnight on Sunday 26th July with a physical ballot opening in the Unite Office at 10am on Monday 27th July which will run until 4pm on Thursday 30th July where members can cast their vote by attending the office.

Any members not receiving an E-Ballot can contact the Unite Office with their up to date contact details and an E-Ballot link will be sent to them.

Stuart Davies, National Officer for Unite Gibraltar stated: “A decision was taken by the elected Unite Public Sector Pay Working Group that the union would ballot the membership on Pay 2026/27 to 2030/31 only at this stage and would defer any ballot on the second part of the pay proposal for 2031/32 to 2035/36 until 2031. The rationale for this decision is that the public sector membership of Unite will look very different in five years time and it is important that the membership in 2031 have their say and ability to vote on their pay for the following five years. We also cannot predict what the economic landscape will look like in 2031 and what IRP will be running at, so it is important that the union and our members reassess that element of the Budget 2026 announcement in the context of the financial environment in five years time.

“In terms of Pay 2026/27 to 2030/31 whilst there has been a level of positive feedback around the proposal; although not exclusively, Unite will always ballot the membership on public sector pay. It is also important that members participate in the ballot to have their say, to cast their vote and provide a strong mandate to the union on this important issue.

The ballot closing date of 30th July will mean that there will be a definitive outcome ahead of the pay settlement date of 1st August 2026.