Unison has slammed Local Government Employers for denying a £1.20 hourly wage increase to low paid council and school support staff.
Demands for the wage hike were put to employers by Unison, Unite and GMB in November, with a meeting earlier today failing to see the pay claim implemented.
Warning that attitudes towards local government staff had reached an ‘all time low’, Unison said its committee would meet in four days time to discuss its response.
‘This shoddy treatment has to end once and for all. The Government needs to put its money where its mouth is, end low pay in schools and councils and stop the unnecessary cuts to council funding,’ Unison head of local government, Heather Wakefield, said.
‘School support staff, library assistants, care workers, clerical assistants and cleaners now find themselves regarded as the lowest skilled and lowest valued in the labour market. It’s a shameful culmination of years of neglect of workers who keep our communities clean and safe, care for our elderly and help our children learn.’
A spokesman for the National Employers side said: ‘There is a consensus amongst councils across the country in favour of a pay offer being made. However, members of the National Employers side are unable to formally respond to the unions’ pay claim until government has clarified details of this year’s increase to the National Minimum Wage in April.
‘The National Employers have agreed to reconvene on 1 May to decide their next steps and the trade unions have been informed of this decision.’
Earlier this month, council staff took part in a national protest as part of ongoing campaigns to see the Living Wage granted to 500,000 town hall employees who currently earn less than £7.65 an hour.
According to Unison, 55% of the cost of a £1.20 hourly pay rise could be funded through increased tax and National Insurance – which could then be ‘recycled’ into local authorities.
Wakefield added: ‘Using the National Minimum Wage as an explicit benchmark for our members’ pay for the first time ever, shows just how little the employers and the Government value their amazing contribution to local communities and children in schools. It also shows their disdain for women workers who make up more than three quarters of the workforce.’
Wakefield has indicated to LocalGov that she would like to see further fair pay protests by union members in the future.
