Marathon Arbitration session with skinflint employers

My sources on the UNISON NEC tell me that our Head of Local Government reported today that yesterday's session with ACAS lasted some six hours as both the trade union side and the employers side of the National Joint Council put their case to the arbitrators who have been brought in to settle last year's pay dispute (so we can get on with this year's pay claim).

The employers argued that no further award should be made beyond their final offer - arguing that this was not affordable (although relying on financial data only up to 2006 while the trade union side had more recent information). Since local government has delivered greater "efficiency" savings than the Government wanted there obviously is money for fair pay for low paid local government workers.

I'm sure our officials gave it their best shot and I hope that ACAS do make some additional award - but I don't think many local government workers will be counting on anything. If we want fair pay we need to build up our organisation to fight for it - and to unite with other public service unions to take the Government on.