Unions representing 1.4 million local government workers seek 10% pay rise

Unions representing 1.4 million workers in schools and councils have submitted a 10% pay claim.

Unison, the GMB and Unite said the increase, which would see the lowest paid employees earning at least £10 an hour, was needed to reverse real terms pay cuts suffered by local authority staff since 2010.

The claim, for the year from next April, covering staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, includes a one-day increase to annual leave entitlement and a two-hour reduction in the standard working week.

It also calls for a review of the workplace causes of stress and mental health issues.

Unison’s head of local government Jon Richards said: “Council staff have paid a heavy price during the years of austerity, keeping services going when cash was in short supply and hundreds of thousands of their colleagues lost their jobs.

“The Government claims the cuts are behind us, but no new money behind the recent pay announcement for teachers, police officers and the armed forces suggests otherwise.

“The new PM should make good the damage of the past, and fund local government properly to protect jobs, wages and services.”

GMB national secretary Rehana Azam (pictured) said: “Our members deserve a real pay rise.

“Boris Johnson needs to put his money where his mouth is and help reverse the last decade’s brutal cuts to our members’ quality of life.

“Two out of three people want the government to increase spending on public services, and all political parties agree the public sector needs greater investment.”

Unite national officer Jim Kennedy said: “There are other highly important elements to our claim that revolve around work life balance and the wellbeing of our members mental health.

“Our claim is based on the fact that local government staff have borne the brunt of the Government’s harsh austerity regime since 2010.

“Our members have seen their pay cut in real terms by 22% since then and they need a substantial pay lift in recognition of the dedicated work that they do to keep council services running smoothly 24/7.”

The unions said council workers have faced eight years of government-imposed pay restraint, with their wages either frozen or held to a 1% increase.

Local authority employees are now coming to the end of a two-year pay deal, which included a 2% increase each year, with more for the lowest paid.

The unions presented the pay claim to the Local Government Association today and expect a response in the autumn.

Sian Timoney, who chairs the national employers, said: “We will be consulting with councils during September to seek their views on this claim. We will respond formally to the unions later this year.

“Local government continues to face significant financial challenges, having lost 60p out of every £1 they had from government to spend on services since 2010. Meeting this claim in full would cost more than £1 billion.”

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