National collective pay bargaining in local government is on the verge of collapse. Some might say “good, about time too”. But is everyone prepared for the anarchy that would ensue?
The present crisis is perhaps the regrettable but inevitable consequence of continuous pay restraint. Local government workers have only had a single 1% pay rise in four years: a dream for employers, a nightmare for their staff. It couldn’t possibly go on indefinitely.
That is why my union, GMB, has been preparing for just this eventuality. We have had several conference motions from fed-up delegates calling for a withdrawal from national bargaining. Up to now the motions have been rejected, but only narrowly.
