Council staff


Union starts ballot for strike action 02/12/2021 A trade union has started balloting 370,000 council and school staff for strike action over the 'inadequate' pay offer.
Care staffing levels are ‘dangerously low' survey warns 24/11/2021 Nearly a third (31%) of care workers have warned staffing levels are ‘dangerously low’, according to a new survey.
Is a multi-skilled workforce the future of local government? 17/11/2021 Chris Hornung explains why multi-skilling can provide councils with the tools needed to bridge the gap between different areas, streamline communication and improve productivity?.
Birmingham could face new equal pay claims 12/11/2021 Birmingham City Council is facing an equal pay ‘crisis’, a trade union has warned.
Council to offer all staff a free flu jab 12/10/2021 Moray Council will offer all its staff the chance to get the seasonal flu vaccination in a bid to reduce sickness absence and improve wellbeing.
More unions announce strike ballots 06/10/2021 Two more trade unions have moved a step closer to industrial action after members rejected the latest pay offer.
District boosts pay to tackle shortage of bin drivers 05/10/2021 South Holland District Council has agreed to increase pay for its waste and recycling teams in response to the national shortage of drivers.
Call to give care staff priority access to fuel 28/09/2021 The Government has been urged to introduce emergency measures to ensure social care staff can get fuel for their cars.
The role of safety technology in a changing workplace 03/09/2021 Naz Dossa examines the changes in working practices and how technology is playing an increasingly vital role in staff safety and security.
The local government workforce: equal by default 26/08/2021 The APSE Commission message is clear: we need a well-trained, properly rewarded workforce to meet local public services’ future challenges, says Heather Wakefield.
Three Lincolnshire councils agree new partnership 06/08/2021 Boston Borough, East Lindsey and South Holland District Councils have agreed to share a management team and workforce under the largest partnership of its kind in the country.
Unions urge pinged staff to isolate 02/08/2021 Unions have urged waste and recycling staff to stay at home if ‘pinged’ by the COVID-19 app despite several councils having to reduce or suspend services.
Long COVID - lessons for local government employers 30/07/2021 Sarah Gilzean explains why local government must set the standard for dealing with Long COVID in the workplace.
How can local government harness the hybrid working opportunity? 28/07/2021 Gareth Johns explores how the hybrid workplace can help councils drive down costs and improve working processes.
PM urged to intervene over council pay 27/07/2021 A trade union has urged the Prime Minister to make funding available to give council workers a 'fair' pay rise.
Council pay offer increases to 1.75% 27/07/2021 Council employers have offered an improved 'final' pay offer to staff but have offered council chief executives and chief officers a lower increase.
Local government workers on self-isolation exemption list 23/07/2021 Local government has been included on a list of sectors that may be allowed to ignore COVID self-isolation rules, the Government has confirmed today.
County approves hybrid model of working for staff 19/07/2021 Nottinghamshire County Council will adopt a hybrid model of flexible working from October.
Workers and communities deserve better than poverty pay and degraded services 08/07/2021 Steve Turner, who is standing to become the next general secretary of Unite the Union, pledges to end the outsourcing of council services and campaign for better pay.
A new deal for workers in local government 24/06/2021 Sharon Graham, who is standing to become the next general secretary of Unite the Union, sets out her priorities for local government workers.
Council calls for sentence review after attack on litter warden 21/06/2021 Dudley Council has criticised the 'unduly lenient' sentences given to two men who attacked and racially abused a litter warden.
Unions rejects 'insulting' council pay offer 24/05/2021 Two trade unions have rejected the 1.5% pay offer from the national local government employers.
London council offers paid leave for miscarriage sufferers 12/05/2021 Barking and Dagenham Council has announced it will give paid leave for any of its staff who suffer the loss of an unborn baby.
Unions reject councils’ pay offer 26/04/2021 Scottish members of two trade unions have voted to reject a pay offer from councils, raising the prospect of strike action.
COVID-19: Is local government the 'forgotten partner' of the pandemic? 23/03/2021 As part of our survey into the impact this past year has had on council staff, we asked readers for their comments. Many were angry that the role local government has played in the pandemic has not always been appreciated by Government or the general public.
COVID-19: How has the past year affected council staff? 23/03/2021 Council staff have been left feeling ‘undervalued and overwhelmed’ this past year as a result of COVID-19, according to an exclusive survey by LocalGov.
One year on, councils will be central to recovery 18/03/2021 After an extraordinary year, council staff are exhausted, worn down and facing further cuts, says Heather Jameson. But she has no doubt they will continue to rise to the challenge 'whether it is in an office, at home or on a laptop anywhere'.
How to reduce spending on temporary staff and boost employee engagement 25/02/2021 Scott Erwin calls on councils to adopt a ‘dynamic staffing’ model to combine the use of agency staff with more stable budgeting.
How to support employee wellbeing within local authorities 19/02/2021 Grainne Elliott outlines the four wellbeing needs of local authority employees.
Women on the frontline are 'exhausted' survey warns 17/02/2021 Women working in local government have warned the emotional, physical and financial impact of the pandemic is taking its toll, a new survey has revealed.
Unions call for 10% pay rise for council staff 16/02/2021 Three local government unions have called for a wage increase of at least 10% for all council and school workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Treasury scraps cap on public sector exit payments 12/02/2021 The Government has dropped its controversial cap on public sector exit payments after admitting it had ‘unintended consequences’.
Nottingham plans £100m asset sale 19/01/2021 The council has identified £100m of assets for sale as part of a plan to bring its finances under control.
Mass testing for asymptomatic COVID-19 rolled out to all local authorities 11/01/2021 All local authorities will be able to offer asymptomatic community testing to critical workers from this week.
New Year Honours awarded to local government workers 04/01/2021 Figures across local government have been recognised for their response to the pandemic in the 2021 New Year Honours list.
Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2020 16/12/2020 Although the dispute over council pay caused the most stir in the local government sector this year, the impact of dealing with the pandemic obviously dominated the headlines as well.
Council chiefs concerned about impact of COVID-19 testing on ‘exhausted’ school staff 16/12/2020 Local authority leaders have raised concerns about the impact of the Government’s plan to roll out coronavirus testing in schools on already overstretched school staff.
Report praises local authority and volunteer partnership during COVID-19 16/12/2020 A new report has praised the way local authorities in Wales worked with the third sector to protect vulnerable people during the pandemic.
Man convicted for dropping bowling ball on council worker’s head 15/12/2020 A man has been convicted of grievous bodily harm after he dropped a bowling ball on a council worker’s head from an upper window.
How to drive employee engagement within local authorities 14/12/2020 James Scott presents four key tips for enhancing communication and uplifting employee engagement within local authorities.
How can local authorities return to the office safely? 04/12/2020 Sarah Gilzean outlines what steps local authorities should take to ensure a safe return to the office.
Spending Review: Public sector pay increase for low earners 25/11/2020 Public sector worker wage increases will be limited to the lowest paid, the chancellor has announced this afternoon.
District council workers agree to strike next month 18/11/2020 Up to 1,000 workers at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are set to strike following a row about pay and conditions.
Council leaders recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours List 12/10/2020 Council leaders and staff have been recognised in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for their services to local government.
Councils and COVID-19: Preparing for the winter 25/09/2020 Ian Caminsky explores what impact the pandemic has had on employee absence in local government.
Four-day week in public sector could create 500,000 new jobs, think tank argues 01/09/2020 The public sector should pioneer a shorter working week with no loss of pay, a think tank has argued.
Leaving home: life post-council 28/08/2020 Amy McGregor-Dainton, a council communications officer on sabbatical from Australia in the UK, explains what she misses about working in local government.
Local government pay deal agreed 21/08/2020 Local government has accepted a 2.75% pay increase, it has been confirmed, despite objections from Unite.
COVID-19 spotlights information management shortcomings in local government 20/08/2020 James Paton highlights the glaring gaps in information management capabilities and provides some practical action points.?
Four in five council staff working from home 19/08/2020 The number of council staff working from home has rocketed from 5% pre-lockdown to 80%, according to new research.
Are you doing enough to protect your lone workers? 18/08/2020 Naz Dossa explains why it is essential that local authorities consider the safety and psychological effects of staff working alone.
Unite members reject 'insulting' council pay offer 17/08/2020 The majority of members of Unite the union have rejected the 2.75% pay offer.
Chancellor accused of 'selective memory' over council workers' pay 21/07/2020 Council staff are the 'forgotten army of public service' and are being denied a 'decent' pay rise, a union said today.
Unite to ballot members over ‘insulting’ council pay offer 12/06/2020 Around 100,000 council workers will be asked if they want to accept or reject the 2.75% pay offer.
Covid-19: Wirral Council workforce case study 13/05/2020 Wirral Council explains how it has managed to engage and support its workforce during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Colchester Borough Council to furlough staff 07/05/2020 A council in Essex is set to furlough some of its staff in order to limit the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Council staff to test contact-tracing app on the Isle of Wight 05/05/2020 Council staff on the Isle of Wight will be the first to test a new contact tracing app to help control the spread of coronavirus.
Successful homeworking: from BT’s people to you 04/05/2020 Homeworking might be new to your organisation, but there are lots of ways to make it work for you says Dr Nicola Millard.
Coronavirus testing extended to frontline council staff 24/04/2020 Council staff with symptoms of Covid-19 will be able to get tested for the virus, the Government has announced.
Council staff will be deployed for Covid-19 contact tracing 21/04/2020 Council staff will be deployed to help spot, trace and isolate new cases of coronavirus, the Welsh Government has confirmed.
Council considers placing some staff on furlough 17/04/2020 A Scottish council is considering furloughing a limited number of workers in a bid to limit the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis.
Unions slam 'woefully low' council pay offer 17/04/2020 The Government should provide extra funding to give council workers a 'proper' pay rise during the pandemic crisis, trade unions have said.
Council workers offered a 2.75% pay rise 16/04/2020 Trade unions have been urged to accept a 2.75% pay increase for council staff.
Scottish unions blast 'inconsistent' way councils are handling coronavirus 02/04/2020 Trade unions in Scotland have criticised the ‘inconsistent’ approach to protecting council staff from coronavirus.
Councils report ‘sickening’ attacks on staff 30/03/2020 Council staff have been subject to unacceptable physical and verbal assaults during the coronavirus crisis, including one council worker having their leg broken.
Glasgow council seeks 1,500 voluntary redundancies 24/03/2020 Glasgow City Council has announced that it is offering voluntary redundancies to its staff in order to reduce its wage bill in the face of heavy budgetary pressures, including an over £500m equal pay bill.
Who is considered a keyworker? 20/03/2020 What job roles are considered critical by the Government in fighting the Covid-19 response? It has now published a list of those key workers.
Strategic workforce planning 09/03/2020 Michael Culshaw explains why local government needs a a strategic workforce plan whitepaper.
Unions reject 'disappointing' 2% council pay offer 05/02/2020 Trade unions have rejected a 2% pay increase for council staff and called on employers to 'come up with a better offer'.
Unions blast 'unnecessary' delay to council staff pay rise decision 23/01/2020 Trade unions have criticised employers for failing to make a pay offer to local government staff yet.
Power failure closes down council's headquarters 11/12/2019 A power failure has forced Dundee Council to close its headquarters for a second day.
Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2019 10/12/2019 From calls to a 10% pay rise for council staff to declaring a climate change emergency, here is our countdown of the 100 most popular stories on LocalGov during 2019.
Decision on council staff pay rise delayed until the New Year 06/11/2019 A leading union negotiator has questioned local government employers' good faith after they decided to delay responding to their 10% pay claim until the New Year.
Council workers to lobby for 10% pay rise 04/11/2019 Unions are set to protest in support of their 10% pay claim when local government employers meet in London tomorrow.
Living wage boost would benefit hundreds of thousands of council staff 08/10/2019 Workers stand to gain from politicians' pledges to increase the National Living Wage.
Council staff urged to take part in future of work survey 05/09/2019 Local government workers have been invited to take part in a new survey on the future of work.
Formal dispute opened by union at Northamptonshire 13/08/2019 A trade union has lodged a dispute with Northamptonshire CC.
In a nutshell: the 2020-21 local government pay claim 29/07/2019 Mark Whitehead explores the context behind the union's bid for a 10% pay increase for council staff.
Unions set to propose 10% pay rise for council staff 17/07/2019 Better work-life balance and support for mental health are likely to be elements in a pay claim being agreed by local government unions, LocalGov can reveal.
Northern Ireland council staff sickness at highest level in nearly 30 years 18/06/2019 Sick leave at Northern Ireland councils is at its highest level since 1990, with nearly 15 days lost per employee a year, auditors have warned.
Care workers suffer from 6,000 violent attacks 10/06/2019 Care workers suffered more than 6,000 violent attacks resulting in serious injuries during the last five years, shocking new figures have shown.
Study sets out how best to empower electoral officials 06/06/2019 Organisations running elections do better when they tackle stress among their employees, according to academics.
CEOs in local government the least trusted, research shows 05/06/2019 Top bosses in local and national government are the least trusted by their employees, according to new research.
Helping to tackle bullying and harassment 28/05/2019 Sylvia Sage outlines how councils can tackle inappropriate behaviour in the workplace.
South Ribble Council chief executive placed on ‘special leave’ 28/05/2019 The chief executive of South Ribble Council and her two deputies has been put on ‘special leave’ until further notice, the local authority has confirmed.
Capping exit payments in the public sector 07/05/2019 Kim Howell explores how the ongoing uncertainty about the proposed cap on exit payments should be managed by employers in local government.
Understanding absenteeism and presenteeism in local government 16/04/2019 Has local government found the cure for its absenteeism issues? Louise Chapman reports.
Treasury moves to ban six-figure ‘golden goodbyes’ in local government 10/04/2019 The Government has launched a consultation into ending six-figure ‘golden goodbyes’ for public sector staff.
Local government employment at ‘record low’ 20/03/2019 The number of people employed in the local government sector has plummeted to a ‘new record low’, data reveals.
How digitisation will put the human into HR 27/02/2019 Simon Fowler explains about how local government employee engagement can be supercharged by HR professionals learning to harness data and technology.
Sexual harassment is everyone's problem, not just the rich and powerful 22/02/2019 Is local government failing to tackle sexual harassment in the workplace? Mark Whitehead investigates.
Council staff should be better protected against sexual harassment 18/02/2019 Council staff should have better protection against unwelcome advances by people using public services, Unison has warned.
Ashford BC offers £3,000 bursary to undergraduates 14/01/2019 A Kent council has approved the introduction of an undergraduate work placement and bursary scheme - the first of its kind amongst local authorities in the county.
Councils to save £90,000 by sharing top staff 10/01/2019 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough councils have announced plans to share more of their top personnel in order to make efficiency savings.
Redundancy of Bournemouth council boss to cost £475,000 09/01/2019 The redundancy of Bournemouth Borough Council’s managing director will cost the council around £475,000 as part of the merger of Dorset’s councils.
We need to give more attention to our middle management and frontline teams 04/01/2019 If we want to land changes across our organisations then we have to take people on the journey says Danny Longbottom.
'Fairytale of New York' most loved song of local government 19/12/2018 Local government leaders enjoy ‘place-based’ Christmas songs, think tank concludes, as nearly half select The Pogues’ classic as their favourite.
Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2018 11/12/2018 From council pay rises to troubled outsourcing firms, here is our countdown of the 100 most popular stories on LocalGov during 2018.
Over 28,000 council jobs cut in Wales 27/11/2018 More than 28,000 local authority jobs have been lost in Wales as a result of Whitehall spending cuts, a union has revealed.
Council scraps plans to force staff to take unpaid leave 19/11/2018 Somerset County Council has backed down over a plan force staff to take two days unpaid leave over Christmas.

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