Employers reject pay claim as ‘unrealistic’

Local government employers have branded a joint pay claim from
unions representing local government workers as “unrealistic
and unaffordable”, writes Clare
Jerrom.

Unison, GMB and the Transport and General Workers Union set out
their demands, which include an increase of four per cent plus
£200 on all pay points and increased annual leave and
maternity provisions.

“This is an unrealistic and unaffordable pay claim because
it will add another 5.26 per cent to the £14.7 billion local
government pay bill,” a statement from the employers
read.

Such a claim “can only put jobs and services at
risk”, the statement added.

However, Heather Wakefield, Unison’s head of local
government, argued that the claim on basic pay was
“modest” and tackled “low pay, equal pay and
better training for the workforce”.

The unions want spinal column pay points four, five and six,
which represent workers earning between £5.33 and £5.53
an hour to be abolished. The four per cent increase plus £200
should be on all remaining points and allowances should be raised
by four per cent.

The claim calls for the completion of equal pay audits and pay
grading reviews in every council within two years and for
additional ring-fenced funding to enable councils to carry them
out.

Basic annual leave should be raised to 25 days per year, paid
maternity leave should be increased to eight weeks’ full pay and 14
weeks’ half pay and fathers or “nominated carers”
should be entitled to two weeks’ paid “maternity support
leave”.

Mothers adopting children under-18 should have paid adoption
leave, in line with paid maternity leave.

The unions also want the urgent completion of the training and
workforce development agreement with targets and deadlines for
implementation, with ring-fenced funding.