Dan Peters 15 October 2021

Disruption warning as unions ask for pay talks to resume

Disruption warning as unions ask for pay talks to resume image

Unions have urged council employers to return to the negotiating table with an improved pay offer amid warnings that months of disruption could lie ahead.

Unison, Unite and GMB – which between them represent 1.4m council and school staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – insisted they were ‘keen to reach a fair, negotiated settlement’ in a letter to employers’ side secretary Naomi Cooke.

The three unions, which submitted a pay claim of at least 10% in February, said the percentages of members voting to reject the pay offer of 1.75% made clear staff had been left ‘disappointed and angry’.

They claimed ‘many’ local authorities have budgeted for a larger pay increase than the offer and suggested councils would be ‘anxious to avoid a potentially lengthy dispute’.

The letter read: ‘Over the last year, key workers have shown how indispensable they are, going over and above to provide essential services, often putting their own health and safety at risk.

'The 1.75% offer is wholly inadequate, and, with inflation high and rising, it represents another real terms pay cut for workers who have seen a quarter of the value of their pay wiped out since 2010.’

Unison’s head of local government, Mike Short, said workers were ‘underappreciated and appallingly undervalued’ as he called on employers to ‘do the right thing’.

GMB national secretary Rehana Azam added: ‘Slashing the wages of local government workers while we’re still in the grip of COVID is grotesque.

‘If this Government wants a levelled up, high wage economy it should start with the workers who’ve kept streets safe and clean, children in the classroom and rubbish collected throughout the pandemic.’

The employers have been approached for a response.

Why age alone shouldn’t define local government leadership image

Why age alone shouldn’t define local government leadership

Age should never define leadership in local government, says Graeme McDonald, Managing Director of Solace. Instead, councils should invest in inclusive, skills-based development for officers and councillors to deliver effective public services.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Head of Democratic Services, Elections & Monitoring Officer

Harborough District Council
Grade 12 £67,236 – £71,223 plus £3000pa Statutory Officer Allowance
We are looking for an accomplished and proactive leader for our vacant post of Head of Democratic Services & Elections Market Harborough, Leicestershire
Recuriter: Harborough District Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
£35,412 - £39,152 (pre-progression) / £40,777 - £45,091 (post-progression)
We are looking for social workers who have completed the assessed and supported year in employment to join our Families First teams, working with our Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 9 £35,412 - £39,152 (Pre-Progression) / Grade 11 £40,777 - £45,091 (Post-Progression)
Are you a nurturing social worker passionate about supporting parents so that children can remain with their birth family?     This could be the right Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Administrative Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 4 £25,583 - £26,824
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Administrative Officer to join our busy, friendly team, supporting Children and Young People’s Services. 1 x Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lunchtime Play Worker

Durham County Council
£24,796 pro rata
Lunchtime Play Worker Grade 1 £24,796 pro rata Part Time - 6.25 hour per week, Monday – Friday
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner