Local government unions submit joint pay claim
14 January 2009
Local government unions(*) representing more than one million
council staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will today (14
January) submit their annual pay claim for an increase of at least
the level of retail price inflation, with additional salary
increases for the lowest paid.
The claim covers all grades of workers in local government
including refuse collectors, teaching assistants, school meals,
social workers, administrators, cleaners, parks and leisure,
librarians and comes as local government unions and employers begin
binding arbitration over last year’s pay claim.
UNISON Head of Local Government, Heather Wakefield, said: “It
cannot be right that whilst local council chiefs have been
delivering efficiency savings above and beyond those called for by
central government, local council staff have been forced into debt
by year after year of below inflation pay awards.
“As the worst effects of the credit crunch reach our communities,
the first line of defence will be provided by local council staff,
but they remain some of the lowest paid workers in the public
sector. It is high time that the vital work they do was reflected
in a fair pay award.”
Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary, said: “Council Chiefs have
been on a gravy train of greed, awarding themselves embarrassingly
large pay rises without justification. Meanwhile ordinary Council
workers have had sub-inflation pay awards despite making
significant efficiency improvements. The inequality has got to stop
and that’s why GMB says 2009 must be the year of fair pay for
Council staff.”
Peter Allenson, Unite national officer for public services, said:
"This claim is deserved and is affordable. Our members deliver year
on year efficiencies for their employers and work hard to
continually improve services for the public.
"But their pay in real terms has fallen backwards, which is
de-motivating and unacceptable. If local government wishes to
be an employer of choice, it has to address the very real cost of
living issues facing its workforce."
(*) Local government unions submitting the pay claim are UNISON,
GMB and UNITE
ENDS
More information from – UNISON Press Office – 020 7551
1555
