Local government workers pay claim

Wednesday, July 31, 2002

The three unions representing local government workers -Unison, TGWU and GMB - said last week they were 'bitterly disappointed' at the failure of talks with local government employers under the auspices of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. In a joint statement the unions accused the employers of having 'behaved disgracefully' because reports that they would consider a minimum salary of 5 an hour for all staff 'proved to be spin not substance'. Unison is seeking a 1,750 or a 6 per cent pay rise for 1.3 million local government workers, including nursery nurses. But the employers made a final offer of 3 per cent, which was rejected by Unison.