Local government unions 'outraged'
20th January 2010
Local government unions Unite, Unison and the GMB - representing
1.6 million workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - have
today been told that their members face a pay freeze in
2010/2011.
The unions are calling on the local government employers to
think again, saying that local government workers will struggle to
afford basic essentials, with nearly 3 per cent inflation rendering
the pay freeze a real terms pay cut. The unions are calling for
them to come to their senses and make a reasonable offer, saying
that there is room in council budgets to give workers decent
pay.
Unison head of local government, Heather Wakefield, said: "The
employer’s decision to cut our members' pay without negotiation is
a slap in the face for hard working council employees who have kept
local communities together through the crisis.
"Two thirds already earn less than £18,000 a year. Last year
George Osborne, Tory shadow chancellor said the Tories would not
freeze pay for those earning in this pay bracket, now the Tory LGA
is doing just that.
"Our members are already covering posts left vacant by
wide-spread redundancies. 75 per cent of the workforce are women so
this is an outright attack on women's pay.
"We know that councils can afford an increase. Council reserves
have grown, while many have chosen to cut their own income by
freezing council tax. Our members will be outraged by this
threatened pay freeze.
"The trade unions will meet urgently to consider the next
steps."
Peter Allenson, national officer for Unite the union, said:
"There has been absolutely no negotiation with the employers. We
have had a position put to us that will effectively reduce our
members’ living standards. There is no justification for what I
would call a pay freeze, and our members would be angry and
outraged to say the least.
"The employers should reconsider and come to negotiating table
as soon as possible. In the mean time we will consult our members
on the next steps.”
Brian Strutton, GMB national secretary, said: "Council workers
will be absolutely furious about this and I'm personally appalled
at the arrogance of the employers. There has been no discussion, no
negotiation - just a political decision by Conservative controlled
local government.
“David Cameron needs to reign in his right-wing mavericks who
run councils and have the audacity to think that this 2.5 per cent
real terms pay cut for staff is how to deliver local services.
"We will now hold an urgent meeting of the trade union side to
determine our plan of action. I guarantee the mood will be very
angry."
ENDS
Notes to editors: Unison, Unite and GMB public service unions
submitted a claim in October last year for 2.5 per cent or £500.
The claim covers local government staff working as care assistants,
cleaners, teaching assistants, librarians, social workers and
refuse collectors among others, many of whom are at the bottom of
the public sector pay league.
