Dear Members,
The recent announcement that the 2025/26 Pay Award has been finalised is welcome news for NCOA members, who will see the recommended 4.4% cost of living uplift in
August pay.
Whilst accepting that this award is above inflation, our members will be acutely aware that this cost-of-living payment is not accompanied by any substantive recommendations for structural changes to the NCA’s differentiated pay mechanisms.
It is apparent to all that the Agency plans for pay reform have floundered, for that reason the NCOA will continue to push for an extension of Spot Rate roles. This would
see more of our members benefiting from some pay progression, as the pretence of change without action continues.
We note the thoughts of the NCARRB on a review of shift pay. We will now engage with the Agency on extending the scope and level of this consolidated allowance. Our
engagement will be in line with our written proposal to the 2025/26 pay process:
‘Redesign the NCA shift pay system and adopt a building blocks approach of between 10-30% consolidated pay, dependent on the level of inconvenience and disruption
linked to the role’.
We will update members as these discussions continue.
Regards,
Steve Bond
General Secretary NCOA