The employers have made their ‘final’ offer to council workers and support staff working in schools, increasing their original 1.5% by just 0.25%.
Increased offer of 0.25% is “insignificant”
Staff working for councils and in schools are worth more than the 1.75% pay offer put forward by employers after working through the worst of times, say unions representing local authority workers.
UNISON, GMB and Unite are urging local government employers to rethink their revised pay offer of a 1.75% pay rise (with 2.75% for those on the bottom pay point) for 2021/22 by awarding an increase that will properly and fairly reward council and school support staff.
The offer falls well short of the 10% claim.
Last month, the unions offered to work with the Local Government Association (LGA) on a joint campaign to make the government provide additional funds to finance the wage rise. However, the LGA rejected the move, refusing to put pressure on government to improve pay.
UNISON deputy head of local government Mike Short said: “A 0.25% increase on the initial 1.5% offer is insignificant. Council staff have kept communities clean and safe, protected the most vulnerable, and worked in schools throughout successive lockdowns to allow others to work.
“Their courage and sacrifices need to be rewarded, yet the employers are failing to recognise their efforts. There’ll be a huge impact on morale.
“Employers say they’d like to give council staff more, but they’ve refused to work with us to get the money.
“These workers, mostly women, are amongst the lowest paid in the country and have seen their pay drop substantially in recent years. This 1.75% offer is nowhere near what’s needed. Reps from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will now decide the next move.”
1.75% offer is a below inflation, representing a pay cut in real terms. RPI inflation is currently running at 3.9% and is expected to exceed 4%.
Members will be consulted on this offer late August/September.