Unite the Union, has today began their 2025-26 Public Sector pay campaign by submitting the union’s pay claim to HMGOG.

A statement from Unite follows below:

The claim, that has been formulated by taking account of feedback from Unite Branches, shop stewards and members across the public sector, is multi-faceted to include issues outside of pay. The pay claim is also governed by a series of pay principles that have been developed by the elected, Unite Public Sector Pay Working Group again based on views, feedback and opinions of those Unite members and activists covered by the public sector pay arrangements. These pay principles have guided this pay claim and will dictate the pay negotiations now and in the future. 

Stuart Davies, National Officer for Unite Gibraltar stated “The overwhelming feedback from Unite Branches, shop stewards and members was the need to recover the real terms losses in pay that have been experienced since the cost of living increase in 2019 with higher costs from the inflationary spirals experienced across 2022 and 2023 now being hard baked into prices. This has driven the headline pay claim of 20%, the recovery of those real terms losses in pay will be a central feature of pay claims moving forwards as Unite seeks that recovery across this and future pay rounds.

 “The Public Sector Pay Principles are also an important factor, developed and agreed by activists these will guide the union’s position to pay claims and negotiations such as percentage increases not fixed monetary increases, consolidated pay rises only and an across the board application of any pay solution.

“The pay claim also contains other important elements such as addressing the minimum public sector salary and also the proliferation of Zero Hour Contracts in both the public & private sectors, the message from across the whole of the Unite membership is that these contracts have no place in the Gibraltar economy in covering permanent roles and vacancies. 

“The claim is also calling for further and significant progress with the Gibraltar minimum wage to support the lowest paid in the wider labour market and finally for the establishment of the Gibraltar Living Wage. 

“This is an ambitious claim and one that the union looks forward to engaging with HMGOG on, the claim is being communicated to all Unite members in the public sector who will have a say and vote on any final pay proposal achieved via negotiations.

The Unite Public Sector Pay Working Group, which will be re-elected in quarter one of 2025 with the new group taking office from 1^st April 2025, will continue to meet regularly throughout the negotiation period to have oversight of the pay campaign and negotiations.