09 July 2004
Employers and unions are on the brink of ending the long-running local government pay dispute after one union backed the package on offer and councils indicated their broad support.
GMB union members have backed the 8.9%, three-year, pay offer by a margin of two to one, although the leadership made it clear that they were accepting the offer reluctantly.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Employers Organisation, which represents local authorities in pay talks, told Public Finance councils were 'broadly supportive' of the offer.
The EO's consultation was due to end on July 9, but the early signs were that authorities were willing to implement the package. The developments put pressure on the other two unions involved in the dispute, which has already dragged on for six months, to sign up to the deal.
A consultation by Unison, the largest local government trade union, also closes on July 9. The T&G are working to the same timescale.
Announcing the GMB's decision, national secretary Brian Strutton said members did not believe the 8.9% offer truly recognised the value of their work.
But he said employees recognised that the deal – which will be implemented in three tranches with the first being backdated to April 2004 – was all that was available.
'They have taken the pragmatic view that this is the best that can be achieved. The real culprit is the chronic underfunding of local government which keeps wages at poverty levels.'
The Employers Organisation spokesman said a meeting between employers and unions scheduled for July 14 could mark the end of the dispute.
'Assuming all sides feel they can back the deal, then it could be signed off there and then.'
PFjul2004
