News from the NEC – October 2025

The general secretary, Fran Heathcote, updated NEC members on negotiations with the employer and on the outcome of delegated pay talks. The general secretary also updated members on the process for the levy refund.

National negotiations

In negotiations with the Cabinet Office we are seeking an agreement on pay, jobs and flexible working across the civil service.

The employer has indicated that it is open to reforming civil service pay to create greater pay coherence – and we are engaging in talks with senior officials and the new ministers following the substantial minister reshuffle in September.

The Cabinet Office has accepted the problems caused by years of pay restraint post-2010 (i.e. low pay and recruitment and retention), the differing levels of pay across civil service departments and bodies, and the erosion of grading differentials.

While we have not yet won the case for national pay bargaining, they are recognising the need for greater standardisation and harmonisation.

We have further detailed talks scheduled in the coming weeks with senior officials and ministers to push our case.

Delegated pay talks

In delegated talks in departments, our reps and officials have achieved a large number of settlements that exceed the current inflation rate of 3.8%, especially for AAs, AOs and EOs.

Some examples of delegated pay settlements are recorded at the end of this article.

However, in the DWP, the employer weighted increases towards higher and specialist grades, and so the DWP group executive committee (GEC) called a consultative ballot of members. On a 52.3% turnout, 80% of DWP members indicated they would be prepared to take action. Our negotiators are pressing the employer to re-open talks on the shape of the offer, and the DWP GEC is weighing up moving to a statutory ballot.

Industrial action

Following delegated pay talks, and a series of consultations with groups and members, the NEC agreed that there is not a strong enough case to move to an industrial action ballot under the national campaign at this time, though this will be kept under review.

Levy Refund

The levy refund has a provisional go live date of 28 November, in order that full testing is able to take place and to allow for extended consultation with the finance team to ensure payment information is correctly provided in workable formats.

Members will be asked to confirm or update their contact, grade and workplace information in order for a claim to be processed, so that we use this an opportunity to ensure we are communicating effectively with members.

Pay settlements achieved in employers:

ACAS:

AO 8.5%

EO 4.75%

Cabinet Office:

AO and EO 4.75%

Crown Commercial Service:

AO and EO 4.45%

Department for Business and Trade:

AO 5.5%

Department For Culture Media and Sport:

AO 4.14%

Department for Education:

EA 6.4%

EO 7.43 - 7.88%

EO (experienced) 4%

Department of Health and Social Care:

AO 4.5%

EO 4.25%

Department for Work and Pensions:

AO 4.01%

Food Standards Agency:

AO 8.48%

Forestry Commission England:

PB6 Ops 6.9%

PB5 5.5%

HM Revenue and Customs:

AA and EO 4%

AO 4.66%

Institute for Apprentices and Technical Education:

EO 7.5%

HEO 6.5%

The Justice Board:

AO 10%

EO 6%

Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

AA 10.61%

Ministry of Justice:

AA 5.6%

AO 5.7%

National Savings & Investments:

Lowest paid 9.5%

Office for Nuclear Regulation:

All grades 5.39%

Ofsted

AA, AO and EO 4.25%

Pensions Ombudsman

AA 4.41%

AO 4.28%

EO 4.08%

Royal Botanic Gardens:

AA 4.25%

AO 4%

EO 4%

Serious Fraud Office:

AA 4%

AO 4%

EO 4%

UK Export Finance

AO 7.35%

EO 4%

UK Hydrographic Office:

AO 5%

EO 4.51%

UK Research and Innovation:

AA 6%

Westminster Foundation for Democracy:

AO 4.1%

EO 4.9%