Local Governemnt employers have now decided to impose a pay freeze - really a cut-from April 2010. You deserve better. You won't need telling that local government workers are under the cosh - whether it's attacks on your conditions, your pension, redundancies or cuts.The Chancellor’s Emergency budget imposed a two year pay freeze on public sector workers earning over £21,000 a year – but three quarters of Local Government, staff earn below that figure. UNISON has called on the employers to answer the question – will low paid workers get a £250 pay rise this year?
Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said:
“Low paid workers have a right to know whether they will get the £250 promised in the budget. Local Government employers have so far failed to make any pay offer, insisting on a pay freeze for all staff – including those on the lowest pay.
“We know that staff such as nursery workers, home carers, housing workers, leisure and parks staff, school meals and cleaning staff – in fact the vast majority of local government workers earn below £21,000.
“It’s time to come clear on local government pay and give low paid workers their due.
What the Chancellor said in relation to public sector pay
A two year pay freeze will be introduced from 2011-12 for public sector workforces, except for those earning £21,000 or less, who will receive an increase of at least £250 a year. This will save £3.3 billion a year by 2014-15.
What the LGA have said in response
The Con Dem controlled LGA have made it clear that the government’s position on public sector pay will not change their own ‘no offer’ position on NJC pay for 2010-11. The employers have stated that: “...we can confirm that the announcement does not affect:
• Local government pay for 2010/11, where the position remains that the employers have not offered an increase, or
• Contractual annual increments, which should continue to be paid
• Ahead of any negotiations on local government pay for 2011/12 we shall be consulting councils in the usual way through regional pay briefings”.
This could well mean that in addition to a pay freeze this year, local government employers do not even feel bound to offer the minimal increase of £250 in the following two years. We are the poor relations of local government and are set to become even poorer, unless we organize to fight back.
What a £250 increase over two years could mean
The effects of a £250 increase for those earning under £21000, over two years, are
summarized below:
• 67% of the workforce (on 2008 numbers) would be covered
• The percentage rise on Scp4 in the first year is still only 2.06% (or 4.1% over
two years at scp 4)
• The average increase in both years up to the level paid at scp 23/24 is only 1.6%.
(or 3.2% over two years between scp 4 – 23/24)
This still amounts to a heavy pay cut with inflation (RPI) hovering at around 5%.
Paying the price
In an article published by Public Finance Alastair Hatchett head of pay and HR services at Incomes Data Services makes the point that while;
"We are told that private sector workers faced widespread pay freezes last year and now it’s the turn of pampered public servants to feel the pain. But much of this argument is based on urban myths, while new salary curbs threaten fairness and equal pay".
Read the full article here http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/features/2010/06/paying-the-price/