Reversing the cuts

The three largest local government unions, representing 1.4 million employees in schools and councils across England, Wales and Northern Ireland have today (July 24) submitted a pay claim that attempts to reverse the real terms pay cuts suffered by local authority staff since 2010.

The claim for the year from next April would see the lowest paid staff earning at least ÂŁ10 per hour, and all other council employees receiving a ten per cent pay rise.

UNISON, GMB and Unite’s joint claim also includes a one-day increase to employees’ 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.

Unite national officer for local government Jim Kennedy said, “We are strongly supporting a 10 per cent pay increase and a £10 minimum rate claim for local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for the year starting April 2020.

“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 per cent 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.”

For eight years from 2010 council workers faced eight years of government-imposed pay restraint, with their wages either frozen or held to a one per cent pay 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 would like to see the 2020/21 pay deal tackle the fall in living standards school and council workers have faced in the last decade.

The unions are presenting the pay claim to the Local Government Association this afternoon and the employers are expected to respond in the autumn.