Pay
Claim 2009/10 Latest Pay Campaign News
UNISON welcomes break in deadlock on local government pay
(22/07/09) UNISON, the UK's largest public sector union, today (22 July) welcomed the break in the deadlock on local government pay. Read more in UNISON's latest Press release
Latest Pay Newsletter
(16/07/09) In this issue - details of new prospective pay offer. Read more in UNISON's latest Pay Newsletter.
Where are we at?
(03/07/09) Following six hours of constructive pay talks at the end of May, the Trade Union Side has been waiting for a response and a possible revised offer from the Local Government Employers. Read more in UNISON Pay Newsletter July 2009
June Pay Update
(03/06/09) Latest news on local government pay: NJC pay update; and preparing for consulting with members in UNISON Pay Newsletter June 2009, plus read UNISON's Pay Consultation Procedures
Local government pay talks
(18/05/09) UNISON's Heather Wakefield, with the GMB's Brian Strutton and UNITE's Peter Allenson show what the employer's offer is worth to low-paid staff
Local government trade unions representing 1.3m staff - UNISON, GMB and UNITE - are meeting local government employers to negotiate pay today
More from UNISON
Union leaders oppose '3p an hour' pay offer for council staff
(18/05/09 Unison, the GMB and Unite said a 0.5% offer by employers on behalf of local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland would increase the pay of 150,000 workers by 3p an hour.More from 24Dash.com
Local government unions condemn 'mean' pay offer
(08/04/2009) Local government unions have warned employers that the 0.5% pay offer for England, Wales and Northern Ireland is totally unacceptable, and it called on them to open meaningful negotiations as a matter of urgency.More from UNISON
Local government employers offer just 0.5%
(07/04/09) Local government unions expressed bitter disappointment yesterday at a 0.5% pay offer by the Local Government Employers. More from UNISON
Pay Claim 2008/09
Local government pay arbitration
(19/12/008) UNISON has responded to a public announcement by the Local Government Employers (LGE) stating that the union has agreed arbitration terms.The union has warned the LGE that any move to influence the arbitration process is "unacceptable". More from UNISON
Pay Newsletter No 25, December 2008
(18/12/08)As you know, we have experienced considerable problems in progressing the arbitration process with the employers following the 'credit crunch' and revelation of investment in Icelandic banks. Read Newsletter No 25
Gearing up for 2009-10
(14/11/08) The three NJC unions – UNISON, GMB and UNITE – have written to council chief executives and leaders setting out the pay improvements they will be looking for next year. More from UNISON
Pay News - No 22
(04/11/08) his bulletin explains where we're at with arbitration over this year's NJC pay award and where we're going with pay for 2009-10. More from UNISON
Council workers get interim pay rise
(17/10/08) Local government workers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales are set to get an interim pay rise to tide them over Christmas. Pay News Bulletin No 21
Inflation hits 5.2%
(14/10/08) Latest rise strengthens case to reopen public service pay deals
More
from UNISON
Unions appeal for quick resolution to pay dispute
01/10/08) Local government workers have a right to expect a pay increase
by Christmas. More
from UNISON
Local Government Unions appeal to ACAS for quick Resolution to
pay talks
(01/10/08) UNISON, GMB, UNITE, representing 1.5 million local government
workers have today (1 October) written to ACAS urging them to begin arbitration
as soon as possible, to resolve the long-standing dispute over pay. Read
UNISON
Press Release
Scottish council staff to return to picket lines
(11/09/08) Local authority staff in Scotland are set for another day of action after talks with employers failed to produce an improved pay offer. More from UNISON
It�s time for co-ordinated
union action says Mark Serwotka
(08/09/08) There is little doubt that the economy is in trouble. But while
no one seems keen to accept the blame, there is a general consensus among
politicians and employers as to who should pay for it. More
from Compass Online
Local Government Pay - Negotiating framework
(02/09/08) The NJC Joint Secretaries met on 22 and 28 August to continue negotiations on the 2008 -9 pay offer and the review of the Green Book which was agreed as part of last year's pay settlement. Further details in NJC Newsletter No 19
The way forward for local government
(01/09/08) Trade unions and local government employers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales have confirmed their aim to resolve the current dispute over pay "as soon as possible". More from UNISON
Scottish council workers strike for a fair deal
(20/08/09) Council workers have walked out across Scotland today, as UNISON
members stepped up their campaign for a fair pay deal. More
from UNISON
Pay cut 'a disgrace'
(20/08/08) "It's a disgrace that Scotland's hard-working public sector workers are being singled out for a pay cut," UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis told a Scottish strike rally in Glasgow today as around 150,000 council workers walked out in protest at a below-inflation three year pay offer More from UNISON.
Unions and employers agree way forward
(13/08/08) Trade unions and local government employers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales have confirmed they will meet again next week to continue negotiations on pay and conditions. More from UNISON
Local government pay campaign steps up
(06/08/08) UNISON is urging MPs to help resolve the local government pay dispute by lobbying the Local Government Association. More from UNISON
Union to enter talks with local govt employers
(23/07/08) UNISON�s local government National Joint Committee (NJC) has today voted unanimously to back further talks with Local Government Employers, aimed at settling the current dispute over pay. More from UNISON
UNISON secures new pay hope in Local Government!
(24/07/08) Following a massive two day national strike LG employers have
agreed to open a fresh round of negotiation to secure a “new era
of employment in Local Government”. More
Local Government Talks on the Way
(23/07/08) UNISON�s Local Government National Joint Committee (NJC) has today (23 July) voted unanimously to back further talks with Local Government Employers, aimed at settling the current dispute over pay. UNISON Press Release
Local government strike enters second day
(17/07/08) Local government strikers remained resolute on the second day
of UNISON�s industrial action against a 2.45% below-inflation pay offer.
More
from UNISON
Picket lines 'solid'
for second day of council strike
(17/07/08) More council workers joined the second day of a strike over
pay today, closing thousands of schools, town halls, libraries and leisure
centres, and disrupting rubbish collections and other services across
England, Wales and Northern Ireland, union leaders claimed. More from 24dash.com
National council strike brings 'chaos' to key services
A strike by council workers closed thousands of schools, libraries and sports centres and halted refuse collections, street cleaning and other services today, with further disruption planned in a bitter row over pay More from 24dash.com
UNISON members strike for fair pay
(16/07/08) UNISON members say they have no choice but to strike –
with the cost of living spiralling out of control, they cannot afford
to accept a pay cut. More from UNISON
Council workers walk out over pay
(16/07/08) Thousands of council staff are striking over pay in their biggest
campaign of industrial unrest for years, forcing schools to close and
hitting services. More
from the BBC
National council strike: A region-by-region guide
(16/07/08) A 48-hour strike by hundreds of thousands of council workers will hit schools, libraries and refuse collection, close civic offices and sports centres and disrupt other local authority services today and tomorrow. More from 24dash.com
Chaos looms over council strike
(15/07/08) Schools gates could stay shut and rubbish remain in the street
uncollected if council workers walk out in a planned two-day strike over
pay. More
from the BBC
UK braced for day of national strike action
(15/07/08) The biggest bout of industrial unrest for years will break out tomorrow when tens of thousands of council workers and civil servants will strike in bitter disputes over pay. More from 24dash.com
Council strike: School support staff to walk out over pay
(15/07/08) A third of schools are likely to close tomorrow as up to 600,000 local government workers, including school staff, join a 48 hour strike over pay. More from guardian.co.uk
A message loud and clear
(14/07/08) As UNISON members in local government count down to strike
action this week, general secretary Dave Prentis unveiled the new campaigning
banners at the union's headquarters in London. More
from UNISON
Letter of Solidarity and Support from FBU
(14/07/08) The following is a letter to UNISON from John Drake, Regional
Secretary of the Fire
Brigades Union offering their solidarity
and support for the strike action
A message loud and clear
(14/07/08) As UNISON members in local government count down to strike
action this week, general secretary Dave Prentis unveiled the new campaigning
banners at the union's headquarters in London. More
from UNISON
Strike solution 'staring councils in the face'
(14/07/08) The forthcoming strike by public sector workers could be called off if local authorities used the billions of pounds of reserves they have in their coffers, Unison has said.More from Public Servant Daily
Councils could use 'secret billions' to avert national pay strike
(14/07/08) Local authorities are sitting on billions of pounds of reserves
which could be used to avert a strike by more than 600,000 council workers
over pay, it was claimed today. More
from 24dash.com
'Talk to us' employers urged
(10/07/08) UNISON took the fair pay message direct to council employers
today, urging them to reopen pay talks to head off next week's strike.
More
from UNISON
Councils accused of using 'scare tactics' over July strike action
(07/07/08) Local authority employers were today accused of using "scare
tactics" to try to persuade staff not to join a two-day strike by hundreds
of thousands of council workers in a bitter row over pay. More
from 24dash.com
FE members to vote on pay deal
(03/07/08) UNISON is to ballot its 25,000 further education members on
a new pay offer (3.2% or £550 whichever the greater) ) proposed
by employers. More
from UNISON
US public service union sends support
(03/07/08) UNISON local government members preparing to strike received
their first international message of support today, as the US
Service Employees International Union pledged its solidarity in the
"fight for fair treatment". More
from UNISON
My 'council', what about 'my pay'?
(02/07/08) UNISON today attacked the Local Government Association (LGA)
for launching a 'My council' public relations exercise, as 600,000 local
government workers prepare to take strike action. More
from UNISON
Members lobby employers' conference
(02/07/08) UNISON members working in local government today lobbied delegates
at the Local
Government Association conference in Bournemouth. More
from UNISON
Right to strike over low pay (01/07/08) A leading political publication has come out in support of UNISON members, defending the right of 600,000 council workers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales to strike for a living wage. More from UNISON
Civil servants set to join council workers in national strike
action
(30/06/08) One of the biggest outbreaks of industrial unrest for years
will see tens of thousands of job centre workers, coastguards, driving
examiners and other Government employees join a strike next month by council
employees. More
from 24dash.com
Unions escalate action
over government pay limits
(27/06/08) The government is facing the biggest assault yet on its public
sector pay policy after council workers in trade union Unison voted for
‘sustained’ industrial action More
from Public Finance
Local Governemnt Strike Dates Confirmed
(27/06/08) "...This decision has not been taken lightly, but years
of pay cuts and recent hikes in fuel, food and housing costs has left
them with little choice.." UNISON
Press release
Council strikes confirmed
(27/06/08) UNISON’s industrial action committee has today confirmed
that local government strike action will go ahead on 16 and 17 July in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland. More
from UNISON
Unions confirm two-day council workers' strike will go ahead
(27/06/08) Union leaders gave the go-ahead today for a two-day strike
by hundreds of thousands of council workers which will cripple services
next month. More
from 24dash.com
Council staff will strike on 16 and 17 July
(25/06/08) It’s been confirmed that local authority staff will go
on strike on 16 and 17 July following the ballot in which Unison members
narrowly voted in favour of industrial action. More
from Public Servant
600,000 public sector workers threaten to strike
(24/06/08) Gordon Brown was facing his most serious strike threat from
the public sector last night when 600,000 local government workers voted
to take industrial action and reject a 2.45% pay offer. More
from the Guardian
Two-day strike 'to cripple council services' on July 16 and 17
(24/06/08) Local authority workers are set to take two days of strike
action next month in a bitter row over pay which will cripple council
services, it was announced today.More
from 24dash.com
Local Government Strike Dates
(24/06/08) UNISON negotiators are recommending to the union’s industrial
action committee that its 600,000 local government workers in England,
Wales and Northern Ireland kick off their strike action with a 48-hour
walk out on July 16 and 17. The union’s industrial action committee
meets on Friday (27 June) to make the final decision. More
from UNISON
Local government workers seek 48-hour strike
(24/06/08) Union�s industrial action committee will be asked to authorise
two-day strike in mid July to start �sustained� pay campaign UNISON press release
Local government members vote for action
(23/06/08) UNISON members in local government in England, Wales
and Northern Ireland have voted by 55% to 45% for a programme of sustained
strike action over a 2.45% pay offer. More
from UNISON
Strike Ballot Opens
- vote yes!
(30/05/08) Hundreds of thousands of council workers are poised to vote
on whether to strike over a “miserly” 2.45% pay offer. More from UNISON
Council workers to vote on national strike action
(30/05/08) Hundreds of thousands of council workers will start voting
today on whether to take strike action in protest at a 2.45% pay offer.
More
from 24dash.com
Waterways workers accept pay deal
(30/05/08) Workers at British Waterways have voted overwhelmingly to accept
a pay deal for this year which will give them a 3.5% pay rise and an extra
day’s holiday. The agreement, negotiated by UNISON and Unite, will
deliver total benefits for the coming year worth more than 4%. More
from UNISON
Summer of discontent looms as unions ballot for strikes
(30/05/08) Ballot papers for industrial action will be sent to almost
1 million union members in local government this week, amid continuing
unrest over the government’s public sector pay cap. More
from Public Finance
Summer strikes move closer
(29/05/08) The prospect of nationwide strikes over pay moved closer today, as UNISON agreed to seek a ballot on strike action from its 100,000 local government members in Scotland.
More from UNISON
College workers to protest over pay
(29/05/08) Staff at further education colleges in England will demonstrate
their anger at this year�s below-inflation pay offer by holding lunchtime
protests next Wednesday. More
from UNISON
Local Government Strike Ballot is on
(16/05/08) UNISON members working in local government in England, Wales
and Northern Ireland have been given the green light for a ballot on industrial
action after rejecting the pay offer from employers. More
from UNISON
Ofsted workers strike over pay
(16/05/08) One thousand Ofsted workers have walked out today in a dispute
over pay, halting inspections of childcare services across England. More
from UNISON
Result of Pay Offer Consultation
(12/05/08) The UNISON consultation on local government pay saw a 54 percent
vote to reject the deal. Although narrow, this is a clear measure of the
mood to fight given that the ballot said this would mean supporting "escalating
all out action". The NJC then voted by 15 votes to 12 to proceed
to a strike ballot.
‘2.5% is not enough’
(01/05/08) Further education unions have rejected a below-inflation pay
offer proposed by employers at talks today. More
from UNISON
Ministers have ‘failed to give good reason for pay caps’
(01/05/08) The government has failed to give a good explanation for the
current squeeze on public sector pay, an independent pay expert told a
conference of trade unionists this week. More
from Public Finance
Unions gear up for next phase of pay fight
(01/05/08) Members of the Public and Commercial Services union will consider
escalating their action against the government’s public sector pay
cap at their annual conference later this month. More
from Public Finance
Report warns councils
face chronic staff shortage
(21/04/08) UNISON says new research that shows councils will struggle
to employ enough staff to run services in the next decade is a perfect
illustration of why pay and conditions must be improved. More
from UNISON
100,000 Civil Servants To Strike on 24 April
(11/04/08) Over 100,000 Members of the Public and Commercial Services
Union (PCS) working across 10 government departments and agencies will
be on strike at the same time as other public sector workers, including
teachers and lecturers in a one day strike on 24 April in protest at the
government's policy to cap public sector pay to below inflation, which
will result in cuts to living standards across the civil service. More
from the PCS
Scotland's local government unions reject three-year pay offer
(09/04/08) UNISON and the other two unions representing Scotland’s
220,000 local government workers have rejected a three-year pay offer.
The rejection comes after UNISON, the GMB and Unite sounded out members
on the deal proposed by the employers, which would give a pay rise of
2.5% this year and for the next two years. More
from UNISON
Union recommends rejection of 2.45% offer
(08/04/08) UNISON’s lay committee overseeing local government talks
in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is consulting members on the employers’
final offer, under the local government group's pay consultation procedures,
with a recommendation to reject. More
from UNISON
Employers come back with 2.45%
(02/04/08) Local government employers returned to the negotiating table
today with a pay offer that would leave the lowest paid workers less well
off than supermarket staff.More
from UNISON
Local authority employers make improved pay offer
(02/04/08) Local authority employers today made an increased pay offer
worth 2.45% to over 1.5 million council workers in a bid to head off the
threat of a strike. More
from 24ash.com
(01/04/08) "Crucial pay talks for local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland resume this week. UNISON has already rejected a 2.2% pay offer for these workers because it is below inflation and, therefore, represents a pay cut. Local government workers in Scotland are between talks, after rejecting a 3-year deal last month.
Public sector pay is falling behind again and we all know that that will throw up huge problems of recruitment and retention. Big increases in energy, transport and housing over the past year have eaten further into our members' pay. Members should keep up the pressure on employers, councillors and MPs to make sure that they are in no doubt of the strength of feeling about pay."
(19/03/08) UNISON pay talks: NJC pay – Employers make initial offer read circular from UNISON
(25/02/08) Letter to Councillor Shortland regarding pay claim
'A slap in the face'
(19/03/08) UNISON described a 2.2% pay offer from local government employers
in England, Wales and Northern Ireland tonight as "a slap in the
face". More
from UNISON
'Face up to reality'
(18/03/08) General secretary Dave Prentis called on the government to
"face up to the reality of inflation" today on the eve of crucial
local government pay talks. More
from UNISON
Prentis calls for a fairer Britain
(10/03/08) UNISON is calling on the chancellor to use his debut budget
on Wednesday to release the stranglehold on public service pay. More
from UNISON
'Keep pressure on councils,' members urged
(21/02/08) UNISON is calling on members in local government to lobby their
employers throughout the UK over our pay claim for 2008. More
from UNISON
UNISON rejects local government pay offer in Scotland
(18/02/08) UNISON in Scotland has rejected a three-year pay offer from
the local government employers. More
from UNISON
Risky business
(31/01/08) UNISON says the government should heed a study by economic
experts which warns against staging pay rises for public service workers.More
from our Pay Matters Campaign
Education unions submit 6% catch-up claim
(30/01/08) UNISON and other further education unions have today submitted
a pay claim for 6% or �1,500, whichever is the greater. More
from our Pay Matters Campaign
The true cost of inflation
(30/01/08) UNISON says public service workers are hit hard by soaring
housing costs, which the government does not take into account when measuring
inflation. More
from our Pay Matters Campaign
Dave Prentis, general secretary: "Public-sector pay remains under the spotlight with commentators jumping on the "cuts" bandwagon. Six-figure salaries and perks are quoted as evidence that public sector pay is "out of control"
While some at the top may be well-rewarded for the jobs that they do, the majority of public-sector workers struggle to get by on low pay. And salaries for people doing tough front-line work in social care are not enough to recruit and retain sufficient people.
This week, pay talks resume for local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland where the current pay offer stands at 0.5% For a huge number of workers, not on six-figure salaries, the increase is worth just 3p an hour.
The Credit Crunch
UNISON Factsheet: Public
services and the credit crunch (October 2008)
UNISON Factsheet: Public
spending and the economy (October 2008)
16th July - March & Rally
We
assembled at 10am Deane House, Belevedere Rd, and marched to County Hall
where we hald the rall. Speakers included Belinda Burton -Somerset County
UNISON and member of SW UNISON Committee, Nigel Behan Branch Sec SCU and
member of SW UNISON Committee,Vicky Burroughs (Equalities Officer UNISON
SW) and Ken Oasgood Regional Organiser UNISON SW. Pictured, Ruth a support
worker from Selworthy School and her son, Josh
Strikers from acro
Consumer Price index (CPI) rises to 3.8%
(15/07/08) The CPI is the government's preferred measure of inflation
(it does not include housing or fuel costs) the Retail Price Index RPI
has risen to 4.6% this month. Affordability is a big issue in this dispute.
We believe that councils can afford a better deal for our members. Today
we have sent a briefing
to MPs and Councillors outlining the doubling of council reserves,
the 6 billion efficiency savings made since 2004 and the decrease in council
tax - while our members face a below-inflation pay offer.
Here are four key facts about local government finance for you to use
over the next couple of days:
- Since 2004, council reserves in England have doubled - from 5,488 billion to 11, 587 billion
- There are 3,127 billion in unallocated reserves in England and 9,500,000 in Wales
- Councils in England have exceeded their efficiency savings target of 3 billion by 2007/8 by a further 3 billion - saving 100% more than they needed to!!
- Income from Government grants and business rates grew by 39% between 2002 and 2007.Council tax income rose by 36%. NJC pay rose by just 15%
Why Strike?
Mortgages up 8%
Petrol up 22%
Bread up 9%
Milk up 17%
Fuel bills up 15%
Inflation up 4.3%
Pay offer 2.45%? It doesn�t add up!
After 10 years of below inflation pay rises, and with household bills
shooting up, it’s no wonder local government workers are striking
for fair pay. Dowload
poster
Those of you who are working on the 16th & 17th: Please ensure that the previous ‘life & limb only’ emergency cover is strictly adhered to and it may be a very good idea to advise police stations at the beginning of the shift of this. The issue of the EDT has already arisen and the strict ‘life and limb’ policy has been set out. If you need clarification please contact the Branch
Strike Days Events
Local rallies
Bristol 16th March & Rally � 11 am Castle Park to College
Green
Bristol 17th March � picnic and festivities 11am � 2pm
- Castle Park
Bath 17th 11am Rally and Picnic � Queens Sq
Cornwall 17th July � Truro � Rally and
picnic - lunchtime
Devon: Plymouth � Rally � Civic Centre
� 10.30 � 16th July
Exeter � March/Rally � from Civic Centre [Paris St] �
10.30 � 17th July
Torquay 16th � Rally � 9am 17th � The Big Sandcastle
Challenge � Paignton Beach 11am
Dorchester � 16th July � March & Rally and festivities
� 10.30am
Bournemouth � 16th July - March & Rally 12 noon
Poole � 16th July - March & Rally 12 noon
Gloucestershire March & Rally in Gloucester 16th July,
12 noon � Glos City Office to ShireHall
Somerset Taunton � 16th July March � 11am from TDC Offices
-Belvedere Road, Taunton Rally � 12noon � County Hall
How you can help
Spread the word. Ensure everyone knows why your pay matters
- Pin campaign posters and pay bulletins on your noticeboard at work
- Have your say on news websites and talkback radio - help people understand why the government's 2% pay limit is a pay cut
- Volunteer to be interviewed and quoted by the press and media
- Write to your MP
- Send a letter to your local paper
- Complete the Pay Matters Questionnaire
Finding the true cost of a pay freeze
(21/03/08) A key argument in the Pay Matters campaign is our ability to
show that rising inflation means our members should be paid more; our
ability to demonstrate the damage done to our members by below-inflation
pay increases and support for our claims.
We know that many UNISON members are already struggling to meet rising
living costs, and that this has serious consequences for them, their families
and the wider community. read Running
to Stand Still
Key Statistics including basic negotiating statistics and their trends - unemployment, inflation and average earnings. Updated monthly.
It is essential we engage at a local level with the employers and get them to see the sense in our pay claim for 2008/09.
Branches are urged to write to MPs, councillors and council leaders, and send a copy of the letter to editors of local newspapers. For model letters, please visit - http://www.unison.org.uk/localgov/pages_view.asp?did=6383
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