UNISON today hit back at local government employers who are refusing low paid staff, including nursery workers, home carers, housing workers, leisure and parks staff, school meals and cleaning, the £250 pay rise promised in this week’s budget.
Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said:
“It is a disgrace that the local government employers are refusing to give even the lowest paid workers a rise this year. The workforce is overwhelmingly female, and overwhelmingly low paid. 200,000 earn less than £12,500 year, three quarters earn less than £21,000. This cold hearted decision brings real misery for hundreds and thousands of families struggling to cope with inflation running at 5% plus - and that’s before the increase in VAT hits home.
“Most councils budgeted for a pay increase this year, and for the next two years. There is money available to pay staff a rise, but not the political will. How can councils expect staff to help them deal with the harshest budget for decades when staff are so obviously not valued.”