Environment Agency staff demand 13.2%

Unions representing workers at the Environment Agency (EA) have submitted this year’s pay claim for 2023/24 for an increase of at least 13.2% for all staff. They remain in dispute over the 2022/23 pay award of 2% plus £345, which they deemed “unacceptable” during a cost of living crisis, and which led to the wages of the lowest paid falling below the National Living Wage in April. For 2023/24, the Cabinet Office has published its civil service pay remit instructing agencies like the EA to make average awards of up to 4.5% this year plus 0.5% for the lowest paid. However, unions say this is not enough.