Public sector unions have welcomed an improved pay offer after
Local Government Employers broke its deadlock on negotiations this
week.
At a meeting on Tuesday, council chiefs agreed by a majority
vote to make a final offer of a 1% pay rise to council workers for
the current financial year. They had been offered 0.5%. The
lowest-paid council workers, earning up to £13,703 a year, will
receive an additional 0.25% pay rise.
Staff will also receive one extra day leave from 1 April 2009
and LGE committed to a joint redundancy avoidance agreement to be
in place by December.
Warning of sacrifices
“We are pleased that the local government employers have come
forward with an improved pay offer," said Unison’s head of local
government, Heather Wakefield.
"Although we believe that our members are worth more, we are
pleased that the employers have realised that 0.5% was an insult.
It is also vital that we have an agreement in place to protect jobs
in the sector. This will help keep services running through the
recession – when families and communities need them most.”
But Sir Steve Bullock, chair of the Local Government Association
HR panel, said sacrifices would have to be made.
“The perfect storm of reduced income and increasing demands for
services, combined with the low inflation rate has meant that
employers have to make some tough decisions on pay and
spending," Bullock said.
Threat of withdrawal
“Since councils set their budgets for this year the recession
has meant the money available for pay has been squeezed and, for
many councils, this improved offer will have to be paid for by
savings.”
He warned that the offer would be withdrawn and negotiations
ended if it was rejected. Unison’s national committee and the
National Joint Council trade union side will meet next week to
start the consultation on the offer.
Related articles
Local government pay: Unions accuse bosses of 'disrespect'