Doncaster Council workers set for 2.5% pay rise after austerity-era cut reversed
The pay cut has been in place since 2012
The Mayor of Doncaster has revealed she intends to recommend full pay restoration for council staff in her 2026/27 budget, reversing a 2.5 per cent pay cut maintained since 2012.
In a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Mayor Ros Jones said believed it was now the right time to reverse the pay cut and bring wages at the City of Doncaster Council in line with neighbouring authorities.
She said: “As the Directly Elected Mayor of Doncaster and leader of City of Doncaster Council, I am currently finalising my budget proposals for the next financial year.
“I recognise that our staff are the most important valuable asset to our council. They work day in and day out to serve our local people and communities.
“I understand that pay, retention and recruitment are vital to make us an employer of choice.
“Therefore, I can announce that as part of my budget proposals, it is my intention to recommend pay restoration to Full Council. This will include the full reversal of the 2012 pay cut that was implemented under the previous elected Mayor and some of the additional terms and conditions that were changed.”
The reversal of the cut follows a campaign by the GMB Union for the Labour mayor to bring salaries back in line with other nearby authorities.
Doncaster Council staff earning over £14,733 had pay cuts ranging from one to 2.5 per cent imposed by the then-Mayor, Peter Davies, and became a hot topic within the council chamber following the commencement of the GMB campaign.
“Pay restoration has been regularly raised with me for over ten years, by people who work here and also trade unions,” Mayor Jones said, “I made the commitment to regularly keep it under review, reviewing options alongside consideration of all budget pressures, as part of my annual budget setting process.”
“I do consider the time is right, given our budget plans and the first multi-year local government financial settlement for over a decade that gives us certainty of funding for the medium-term,” she added.
All authorities in South Yorkshire imposed staff pay cuts in 2012, during a period of austerity under the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government.
However, Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham councils all fully restored pay – leaving staff in Doncaster thousands of pounds worse off.
It meant staff retention at the council nosedived, as they left for neighbouring authorities with better wages.
Sarah Barnes, GMB Organiser in South Yorkshire, said: “This announcement is a step in the right direction.
“Today is progress, and we’ll be going over the proposal to make sure this restoration is delivered properly and without delay.”
Ms Barnes said GMB members had waited “far too long for fairness” and promised the union would keep members updated ahead of the budget proposals being presented to full council in February 2026.
As previously reported by the LDRS, Mayor Ros Jones’ budget is one of the only items which requires the approval of full council.
Since May 2025, Reform UK have held a substantial majority in the council chamber and Mayor Jones will require the party’s backing to implement the budget.
During a meeting of full council in November 2025, Reform UK councillor Chris Kidger, who represents Bessacarr ward, pressed Mayor Jones for a timeline to pay restoration.
He said “fair and competitive” pay was crucial for addressing Doncaster Council’s issues with hiring and retaining staff.
The Mayor’s budget proposals will be revealed on February 3, 2026, before being considered by her cabinet on February 11 and full council on February 26.