Most local government workers want to quit their job, says survey

Almost 70 per cent of local government workers
considered leaving their jobs in the past year, according to a
survey of 4,500 staff.

The
NOP survey, commissioned by public sector union Unison to look at
attitudes to pay and working conditions, also found that 71 per
cent felt that workload and pressure had increased during the past
year.

The
survey’s findings, which highlight poor pay as a key reason for
workers’ dissatisfaction, came as Unison started balloting local
government staff this week to support a national strike over pay on
17 July.

The
union is one of three – with GMB and TGWU – which are asking for a
6 per cent rise.

Meanwhile, council staff in
London staged a two-day strike this week over London weighting,
which Unison wants to see raised to a flat rate of £4,000 for
inner and outer London.

Unison
national secretary for local government Heather Wakefield said:
“The employers can show they are serious about the recruitment and
retention crisis by making a realistic pay offer and demonstrating
just how much they value their employees.”

But
executive director of the Employers Organisation Charles Nolda said
that the current 3 per cent offer would not be bettered.

“Councils cannot afford more.
Going out on strike will not reopen negotiations or find extra
money,” he said. Urging workers to “reject the futile calls for
strike action,” Nolda said the 3 per cent deal, which he claimed
was well above inflation, was a “fair and reasonable
offer”.

The
organisation’s deputy executive director Rob Pinkham added: “What
the unions are asking for would add almost 12 per cent to the pay
bill.”

He
said that in order to meet the demand for a 6 per cent rise, cuts
in staffing would be needed or council tax would have to be raised
by an average of £80 per household.

– For
more on the Unison survey tel: 0207 388 2366.