GMB to convene lay delegate conference on April 24th to determine stance on pay offer

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Date: March 2008

GMB and the other local government unions, representing more than a million local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, today expressed disappointment at a revised pay offer of 2.45% for the majority of staff, with 3% for those on the bottom 3 pay points.

GMB has 300,000 working in local government. Members of GMB, UNISON and Unite, who include home care workers, teaching assistants, nursery nurses, library staff, park keepers and bin men, have already endured four years below inflation pay deals.

GMB National Secretary, Brian Strutton commenting on the pay offer said: “GMB is very disappointed with this cheapskate offer. Those at the top of local government have had 11% pay rises over the past two years – beating RPI – while the rest of local government has had half that. The hard-working people delivering front-line council services to the public deserve better.

GMB will put this to a national conference of stewards on 24 April to determine our stance. Then we will consult our members to see if they want to accept the offer or take strike action.”

Peter Allenson, Unite national organiser for public services for Unite said, “Unite will consult its members. This is the pay policy of the madhouse where public sector pay cuts have had no bearing whatsoever on inflation which is rising not falling. However this is dressed up it is yet another pay cut to the low paid workers in local government at a time when a chief executive is appointed with a 46 per cent pay hike and record numbers of senior managers are earning more than the Prime Minister.”

Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government said, “Local Government employers need to wake up to the fact that 2.45% is not a realistic or fair offer. The value of local government workers’ wages are falling while the cost of essentials such as food, energy and housing are spiraling. Even with the bottom loading, the lowest pay rate in local government will still be less than Tesco’s. Our members should have had an increase in their pay packets this month. The employers should come back to the table with a decent offer and allow local government members to get back to their jobs caring for the public and delivering quality public services. We will be consulting our members on what course of action they want to take at a national meeting next week.”

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Contact: GMB Press Office: Steve Pryle on 07921 289880 or Rose Conroy on 07974 251823.

Notes to Editors: The 2004-2007 pay agreements for Local Government gave an increase of 11.4% over three years, during which inflation rose by 12.5% and average earnings by 13.4%. The 2007-2008 award was for 2.475% and 3% for the lowest paid – inflation was more than 4% over that period.

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