Motion submitted by Councillor Lappin
To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor Lappin
Motion in relation to NJC Pay to Councils
This Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council notes that:
• NJC basic pay has fallen by 21% since 2010 in real terms
• NJC workers had a three-year pay freeze from 2010-2012 compounded in Sefton by an incremental freeze for several years too
• Local terms and conditions of many NJC employees have also been cut, impacting on their overall earnings
• NJC pay is the lowest in the public sector
• Job evaluated pay structures are being squeezed and distorted by bottom-loaded NJC pay settlements needed to reflect the increased National Living Wage and the Foundation Living Wage
• There are growing equal and fair pay risks resulting from this situation
This council therefore supports the NJC pay claim for 2018, submitted by UNISON, GMB and Unite on behalf of council and school workers and calls for the immediate end of public sector pay restraint. NJC pay cannot be allowed to fall further behind other parts of the public sector. This council also welcomes the joint review of the NJC pay spine to remedy the turbulence caused by bottom-loaded pay settlements.
This council also notes the drastic ongoing cuts to local government funding and calls on the Government to provide additional funding to fund a decent pay rise for NJC employees and the pay spine review.
This council therefore resolves to:
• Call immediately on the LGA to make urgent representations to Government to fund the NJC claim and the pay spine review and notify us of their action in this regard
• Write to the Prime Minister and Chancellor supporting the NJC pay claim and seeking additional funding to fund a decent pay rise and the pay spine review
• Meet with local NJC union representatives to convey support for the pay claim and the pay spine review
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor Lappin, seconded by Councillor Roche:
NJC Pay To Councils
This Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council notes that:
· NJC basic pay has fallen by 21% since 2010 in real terms
· NJC workers had a three-year pay freeze from 2010-2012 compounded in Sefton by an incremental freeze for several years too
· Local terms and conditions of many NJC employees have also been cut, impacting on their overall earnings
· NJC pay is the lowest in the public sector
· Job evaluated pay structures are being squeezed and distorted by bottom-loaded NJC pay settlements needed to reflect the increased National Living Wage and the Foundation Living Wage
· There are growing equal and fair pay risks resulting from this situation
This council therefore supports the NJC pay claim for 2018, submitted by UNISON, GMB and Unite on behalf of council and school workers and calls for the immediate end of public sector pay restraint. NJC pay cannot be allowed to fall further behind other parts of the public sector. This council also welcomes the joint review of the NJC pay spine to remedy the turbulence caused by bottom-loaded pay settlements.
This council also notes the drastic ongoing cuts to local government funding and calls on the Government to provide additional funding to fund a decent pay rise for NJC employees and the pay spine review.
This Council therefore resolves to:
· Call immediately on the LGA to make urgent representations to Government to fund the NJC claim and the pay spine review and notify us of their action in this regard
· Write to the Prime Minister and Chancellor supporting the NJC pay claim and seeking additional funding to fund a decent pay rise and the pay spine review
· Meet with local NJC union representatives to convey support for the pay claim and the pay spine review
An amendment was moved by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Shaw that the Motion be amended as follows:
Adding the following words at the end of the motion:
“In addition this council requests the Independent Remuneration Panel for the Members Allowances Scheme (which currently specifies that 'Increases in Members Allowances will be linked to the average pay increase given to Sefton Council employees') to be amended so that, in no circumstances shall any increase in Members Allowances exceed the increase in the rate of inflation (CPI)”.
On a show of hands, the Deputy Chair declared the amendment was lost by 31 votes to 15.
Thereafter, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the Motion was carried by 46 votes to 3 with 1 abstention and it was
RESOLVED:
That the Motion be approved, as follows:
This Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council notes that:
· NJC basic pay has fallen by 21% since 2010 in real terms
· NJC workers had a three-year pay freeze from 2010-2012 compounded in Sefton by an incremental freeze for several years too
· Local terms and conditions of many NJC employees have also been cut, impacting on their overall earnings
· NJC pay is the ... view the full minutes text for item 51