Union votes to campaign against recruitment incentives

Last month, public sector union Unison voted to campaign for
more money for local government workers.

At its annual conference, union members passed a motion calling
for the union to look again at nationally agreed pay, and to push
for an increase in social services funding beyond the current 6 per
cent.

Members argued that incentives offered to potential staff were
deepening the crisis in recruitment and retention rather than
addressing the fundamental need for more cash in the system
overall.

Golden hellos, extra holiday and a range of other cash
incentives are increasingly being used by councils with high
vacancy rates to poach staff from other boroughs.

Delegates at the conference in Brighton also voted for a
campaign to improve the status of social work.