The GMB trade union has revealed that over 4,000 Doncaster Council workers are due to receive a pay rise ‘worth millions’.
Following the union’s campaign win, the council workers can expect a 2.5% increase in their pay from April 1, which Doncaster Mayor, Ros Jones, today revealed would be part of her budget proposals.
The meeting heard the mayor confirm her intention to restore the council workers’ pay, as well as her plans to recommend the pay restoration funding package to the full council.
GMB said the move will reverse a pay cut that occurred ‘during the Conservative-led austerity years’, with Doncaster being the only council in South Yorkshire that had not yet revoked the cuts.
According to the union, the pay restoration plans will be voted on by councillors at a council budget meeting on February 26.
Sarah Barnes, GMB Organiser, said: ‘This announcement is a step in the right direction.
‘Today is progress, and we’ll be going over the proposal to make sure this restoration is delivered properly and without delay.
‘Our members have waited far too long for fairness.’
Mayor Ros Jones said: ‘I recognise that our staff are the most important valuable asset to our council. They work day in and day out to serve our local people and communities.’
She added: ‘Implementing pay restoration will tackle some of our current recruitment and retention challenges, alongside reducing the need for agency staff to cover vacant posts.’
