Agenda item

Copy attached

It was moved by Councillor Lappin, seconded by Councillor Halsall:

 

Local Government Pay: A Fully Funded, Proper Pay Rise for Council and School Workers

 

This council notes:

 

Local government has endured central government funding cuts of more than 50% since 2010. Between 2010 and 2020, councils lost 60p out of every £1 they have received from central government. New research by UNISON has shown that councils across England, Wales and Scotland are facing a collective funding shortfall of £3bn by the financial year 2023/24 and a cumulative funding gap of £5bn by 2024/25.

 

Councils led the way in efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic, providing a huge range of services and support for our communities. Local government has shown more than ever how indispensable it is. But Covid has led to a massive increase in expenditure and loss of income, and as we emerge from the pandemic, local authorities and schools need far more support from Westminster. Recent funding announcements from the Government relating to schools did nothing to help.

 

Council and school workers kept our communities safe through the pandemic, often putting themselves at considerable risk as they work to protect public health, provide quality housing, ensure our children continue to be educated, and look after older and vulnerable people.

 

Since 2010, the local government workforce has endured years of pay restraint with the majority of pay points losing at least 25 per cent of their value since 2009/10. Staff are now facing the worst cost of living crisis in a generation, with inflation hitting 10% and many having to make impossible choices between food, heating and other essentials. This is a terrible situation for anyone to find themselves in.

 

At the same time, workers have experienced ever-increasing workloads and persistent job insecurity. Across the UK, 900,000 jobs have been lost in local government since June 2010 – a reduction of more than 30 per cent. Local government has arguably been hit by more severe job losses than any other part of the public sector.

 

There has been a disproportionate impact on women, with women making up more than three-quarters of the local government workforce.

 

Recent research shows that if the Government were to fully fund the unions’ 2023 pay claim, around half of the money would be recouped thanks to increased tax revenue, reduced expenditure on benefits and tax credits, and increased consumer spending in the local economy.

 

This council believes:

 

Our workers are public service super-heroes. They keep our communities clean and safe, look after those in need and keep our towns and cities running.

 

Without the professionalism and dedication of our staff, the council services our residents rely on would not be deliverable.

 

Local government workers deserve a proper real-terms pay increase. The Government needs to take responsibility and fully fund this increase; it should not put the burden on local authorities whose funding has been cut to the bone and who were not offered adequate support through the Covid-19 pandemic. The final offer of £1,925 is a derisory, below inflation offer for all council and school workers – in other words a further pay cut.

 

This council resolves to:

 

·       Support the pay claim submitted by UNISON, GMB and Unite on behalf of council and school workers, for an increase of RPI + 2%.

·       Call on the newly constituted Local Government Association to make urgent representations to central government to fund the NJC pay claim.

·       Write to the Chancellor and Secretary of State to call for a pay increase for local government workers to be funded with new money from central government.

·       Meet with local NJC union representatives to convey support for the pay claim and consider practical ways in which the council can support the campaign.

·       Encourage all local government workers to join a union.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Shaw, seconded by Councillor Pugh that the Motion be amended by adding the following words at the end of the motion:

 

In addition, noting that

 

·       the meeting of the Independent Remuneration Panel of 30th June 2023 recommended that Members Allowances be increased in line with the Local Government Pay Settlement

 

·       Should Council subsequently agree with the recommendation from the IRP, in supporting the union pay claim of an increase of RPI + 2% (equating to an increase of approximately 13.5%), this Council would be supporting an increase in Members Allowances of 13.5%.

 

This Council believes that such an increase in Members Allowances would be excessive and should take this into consideration when considering the recommendation from the IRP in due course.

 

Following a debate on the amendment, the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the amendment was lost by 12 votes to 40.

 

Following a debate on the Original Motion, the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the Motion was carried by 40 votes to 4 with 8 abstentions, and it was:

 

RESOLVED:

 

Local Government Pay: A Fully Funded, Proper Pay Rise for Council and School Workers

 

This council notes:

 

Local government has endured central government funding cuts of more than 50% since 2010. Between 2010 and 2020, councils lost 60p out of every £1 they have received from central government. New research by UNISON has shown that councils across England, Wales and Scotland are facing a collective funding shortfall of £3bn by the financial year 2023/24 and a cumulative funding gap of £5bn by 2024/25.

 

Councils led the way in efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic, providing a huge range of services and support for our communities. Local government has shown more than ever how indispensable it is. But Covid has led to a massive increase in expenditure and loss of income, and as we emerge from the pandemic, local authorities and schools need far more support from Westminster. Recent funding announcements from the Government relating to schools did nothing to help.

 

Council and school workers kept our communities safe through the pandemic, often putting themselves at considerable risk as they work to protect public health, provide quality housing, ensure our children continue to be educated, and look after older and vulnerable people.

 

Since 2010, the local government workforce has endured years of pay restraint with the majority of pay points losing at least 25 per cent of their value since 2009/10. Staff are now facing the worst cost of living crisis in a generation, with inflation hitting 10% and many having to make impossible choices between food, heating and other essentials. This is a terrible situation for anyone to find themselves in.

 

At the same time, workers have experienced ever-increasing workloads and persistent job insecurity. Across the UK, 900,000 jobs have been lost in local government since June 2010 – a reduction of more than 30 per cent. Local government has arguably been hit by more severe job losses than any other part of the public sector.

 

There has been a disproportionate impact on women, with women making up more than three-quarters of the local government workforce.

 

Recent research shows that if the Government were to fully fund the unions’ 2023 pay claim, around half of the money would be recouped thanks to increased tax revenue, reduced expenditure on benefits and tax credits, and increased consumer spending in the local economy.

 

This council believes:

 

Our workers are public service super-heroes. They keep our communities clean and safe, look after those in need and keep our towns and cities running.

 

Without the professionalism and dedication of our staff, the council services our residents rely on would not be deliverable.

 

Local government workers deserve a proper real-terms pay increase. The Government needs to take responsibility and fully fund this increase; it should not put the burden on local authorities whose funding has been cut to the bone and who were not offered adequate support through the Covid-19 pandemic. The final offer of £1,925 is a derisory, below inflation offer for all council and school workers – in other words a further pay cut.

 

This council resolves to:

 

·       Support the pay claim submitted by UNISON, GMB and Unite on behalf of council and school workers, for an increase of RPI + 2%.

·       Call on the newly constituted Local Government Association to make urgent representations to central government to fund the NJC pay claim.

·       Write to the Chancellor and Secretary of State to call for a pay increase for local government workers to be funded with new money from central government.

·       Meet with local NJC union representatives to convey support for the pay claim and consider practical ways in which the council can support the campaign.

·       Encourage all local government workers to join a union.