PUBLIC SECTOR PAY
Local government unions “outraged” at pay freeze
Local government unions representing 1.6 million workers have urged council employers to think again about a imposing a pay freeze. Unison, GMB and Unite say that local government workers will struggle to afford basic essentials, with nearly 3% inflation rendering the pay freeze a wage cut in real terms. The unions have called on the employers side to “come to their senses and make a reasonable offer”, saying that there is “room in council budgets to give workers decent pay”.
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The proposed pay freeze covers local government staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 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,” the unions say.
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 £18k 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 widespread redundancies. 75% 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 meantime 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% 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."