Fórsa is finalising ballot arrangements for members working in local authority Information and Communication Technology (ICT), in a long-running dispute.  

In a letter to the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), head of division Richy Carrothers called out “years of management inaction” stating that escalation would take place unless tangible movement took place on a range of issues. 

Fórsa has been seeking a sector-wide review of ICT grading and pay, benchmarked against other professional cohorts and public sector bodies, the establishment of the National ICT CPD committee, and a formal, nationally agreed framework for out-of-hours work and compensation. 

Detailing the reasons why a ballot on industrial action is now unavoidable, Richy said that the lack of meaningful engagement and use of deferral tactics by management over a five-year period had shown a “continued unwillingness to resolve the issues facing ICT staff.” 

ICT staff have seen their workloads increase in scale and complexity in recent years, however, there has been no corresponding adjustment in pay for those carrying out this work in local authorities. This is despite the fact that similar roles are graded higher elsewhere in the public service. 

Chair of the Fórsa ICT Committee in local authorities, Paul Barker said: “It’s demoralising to have our work undervalued by our employer. While they won’t acknowledge the need for adjustment in pay and grade, the introduction of a mandatory requirement for a third level qualification is unprecedented and represents an explicit acknowledgement by management and the LGMA that ICT roles have fundamentally changed in scope, complexity and strategic importance.” 

Concluding, Richy underscored the central importance of local authority ICT staff in achieving the government’s commitment to deliver 90% of services digitally by 2030. He warned that it will be impossible to achieve the goal if local authorities continue to lose ICT staff to other public sector employers where the role is recognised and respected.  

He said: “Retention is collapsing, morale is low, and digitalisation goals are at risk. Our members are organising on this critical issue, and a ballot will take shortly.” 

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