Press Release

Most public sector workers are getting over 2% this year and it's the same in the private sector – so why insult council workers asks GMB

6 April 2009

GMB, Unison and Unite who represent 1.3m local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland expressed their bitter disappointed at the 0.5% pay offer made today by the Local Government Employers for 2009. The unions will be meeting tomorrow to formulate their response to the Employers.

The offer covers all grades of workers in local government in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including school meals workers, social workers, care workers, administrators, cleaners, refuse workers and street cleaners, teaching assistants, parks and leisure staff and librarians. In March 2009 ACAS awarded an additional 0.3% to the 2008/2009 pay award bringing it to a total of 2.75% on all pay points. An extra £100 had already been agreed for the lowest paid.

Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary commenting on the offer said "To offer a 0.5% pay rise is pretty sick even by the standards of Tory-run local government. They are pleading poverty yet those at the top are awarding themselves ever larger salaries. They ought to look at it from the perspective of care workers or teaching assistants or social workers who are under increasing pressure from society's demand for services while struggling with the real daily cost of living. Yet 0.5% is worth only about £50 a year to the average council worker, half that to the typical part-time woman worker who makes up two thirds of the workforce.

Most public sector workers are getting over 2% this year and it's the same in the private sector – so why insult council workers? GMB will naturally want to talk to members about this meagre offer but I honestly can't see any prospect of it being accepted. Given that council employers have told us that they won't negotiate I predict it's either arbitration or strikes."

Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said: "I am bitterly disappointed and surprised at the offer, we know that most Local authorities have budgeted for an increase of between 1.5 and 2%.

Times are tough, but this offer of 0.5% will make it even harder for local government workers, who are already struggling to make ends meet.

Even though times are tough the Employers should look closely at other pay rates in the public sector, or they risk losing essential staff and jeopardising services."

Peter Allenson, Unite National Officer said: "The employers appear to be trying to take advantage of the economic circumstances, which in our view is deplorable. This will do nothing to improve the recruitment and retention of local government staff."