By Mark Smulian
30 April 2010
Public sector trade unions today challenged the three main political parties to ‘come clean’ on their plans for local government pay during the election campaign’s final week.
A joint statement issued by Unison, Unite and the GMB called on Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to say whether they would allow Local Government Employers to persist with its policy of giving no annual pay award.
Their fire was particularly directed at the Tories, who dominate the LGE. The party’s manifesto said a public sector pay freeze would apply to all but the million lowest paid. Earlier speeches by leading Conservatives said this meant workers who earn less than £18,000 a year.
But the LGE’s approach would freeze pay below that level too, except for any annual increments owed.
Heather Wakefield, Unison’s head of local government, said: ‘The Tory-led employers want a widespread pay freeze, while the Tory leader [David Cameron] says this will only be for those earning more than £18,000 – which one is it?’
She said more than 60% of Unison members fell below the £18,000 threshold.
Peter Allenson, Unite’s national organiser for local authorities, said: ‘Our letter is addressed to all the party leaders but the Tory party has got to address the inconsistency between what it is saying nationally and what Tory hawks are doing in local government.’
Labour called for a 1% cap on public sector pay increases for two years, while the LibDems proposed a cap of £400 per person.
In January, the LGE refused to offer an annual pay increase in response to the three unions’ claim for a rise of 2.5%, or £500 a year - whichever is greater.
Managing director Jan Parkinson said at the time: ‘The decision not to offer employees an increase in basic pay this year has not been taken lightly.
‘Councils are facing a perfect storm of falling revenues and increasing demand for services.’
30 April 2010
Public sector trade unions today challenged the three main political parties to ‘come clean’ on their plans for local government pay during the election campaign’s final week.
A joint statement issued by Unison, Unite and the GMB called on Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to say whether they would allow Local Government Employers to persist with its policy of giving no annual pay award.
Their fire was particularly directed at the Tories, who dominate the LGE. The party’s manifesto said a public sector pay freeze would apply to all but the million lowest paid. Earlier speeches by leading Conservatives said this meant workers who earn less than £18,000 a year.
But the LGE’s approach would freeze pay below that level too, except for any annual increments owed.
Heather Wakefield, Unison’s head of local government, said: ‘The Tory-led employers want a widespread pay freeze, while the Tory leader [David Cameron] says this will only be for those earning more than £18,000 – which one is it?’
She said more than 60% of Unison members fell below the £18,000 threshold.
Peter Allenson, Unite’s national organiser for local authorities, said: ‘Our letter is addressed to all the party leaders but the Tory party has got to address the inconsistency between what it is saying nationally and what Tory hawks are doing in local government.’
Labour called for a 1% cap on public sector pay increases for two years, while the LibDems proposed a cap of £400 per person.
In January, the LGE refused to offer an annual pay increase in response to the three unions’ claim for a rise of 2.5%, or £500 a year - whichever is greater.
Managing director Jan Parkinson said at the time: ‘The decision not to offer employees an increase in basic pay this year has not been taken lightly.
‘Councils are facing a perfect storm of falling revenues and increasing demand for services.’
