I endorse this - in my personal capacity for now. Statement on Local Government NJC Pay dispute We believe that the decision taken by UNISON’s NJC committee to suspend strike action on 14 October and consult on new “proposals” is a profound mistake that leaves Local Government workers facing further real cuts in pay and undermines the battle against government imposed pay restraint. The proposal, of a 2.2% increase for most workers over two years with more for the very lowest paid, delivers no more than the 1% already offered for most workers in 2014/2015 and slightly less than 1.2% for 2015/16. It effectively accepts pay restraint not only this year but through the first year of the next government. Anyone looking at the detail of the proposal will be shocked that it can be seriously considered as a basis for a settlement: 2.2% increase payable from 1/1/2015, covering pay years 2014/15 and 2015/2016. Larger increases for the very lowest paid on Spinal column points 5 – 10 (from 8.56% to 2.32%) No back pay but unconsolidated payments of £100 for most workers, £150 for scp 8-10 and £325 for scp 5-7 Further small unconsolidated payments in April 2015 to bring the amount paid up to the equivalent of 1% for 2014/15 The proposal fails to deliver the Living Wage for the lowest paid – and indeed in those authorities where it has already been achieved the lowest paid could get no increase at all. Calling off the action just as health workers were set to strike as part of a coordinated week of action leading up to the TUC demonstration “Britain Needs a Pay Rise” on the basis of such a proposal, that the NJC committee themselves could not recommend to members, makes no sense. We welcome the fact that Manchester branch has already circulated a motion calling for rejection which will be considered at their branch committee on Monday 13 October, and that other branches like Tower Hamlets have already agreed to campaign for rejection. We call for regions and branches to exercise their democratic right to recommend and campaign for the rejection of the proposals and the reinstatement of industrial action, coordinated with other unions where possible, and to use the full resources at their disposal to do so. John McLoughlin, Local Government Service Group Executive Jane Armitage, Local Government Service Group Executive Huw Williams, Local Government Service Group Executive David Hughes, Local Government Service Group Executive Mike Forster, Local Government Service Group Executive Jon Rogers, National Executive Helen Davies, National Executive Jon Woods, Chair, Portsmouth City Ben Drake, Chair, York City Terry Shiels, General Convenor, York City Tim Sneller, Chair, Southend Berny Parkes (Dorset County), Lucinda Dixon (Bath & NE Somerset), Belinda Burton ( Somerset County) Tony Barnsley, Joint Branch Secretary, Sandwell UNISON General Branch Andrew Berry, Labour Link Committee
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 17:41:17 +0000
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