Local Gov pay claim 09

Although we still don't have a final outcome of the 2008 local government pay claim – the 2009 increase is due in a few weeks.
Yesterday the claim went in for a one-year, across-the-board pay increase of at least the level of retail price inflation, with additional increases for the lower paid.

I would sooner see a flat rate claim to really address low pay in local government – and have some doubts about the wisdom of tying our claim to the Retail Price Index at present – however we now need to campaign in support of this claim.

As the UNISON newsletter puts it;

"This is going to be a difficult year for all public sector workers. We have argued in our claim that NJC employees are going to be vital to supporting local communities under stress. Councils therefore need to preserve jobs, while recognising the work our members have done to bring about widespread improvement through a decent pay rise.

We are also arguing strongly that a decent pay increase is affordable. Councils have made more cuts than necessary and put record amounts into reserves in recent years, while cutting jobs and keeping pay rises below inflation. The Audit Commission has recently said that councils have not been as affected by the credit crunch as the media has made out."


We need to lobby MPs now – and importantly we need to start working on unity with other public sector workers if we are to stand any chance of a decent pay rise for low paid local government workers in 2009!

MarshaJane
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www.unionfutures.blogspot.com

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