GMB Slam Council Pay Freeze
Thursday 17th February
2011
GMB
SLAM SECOND YEAR OF PAY FREEZE FOR 1.5
MILLION COUNCIL WORKERS IN
ENGLAND, WALES
AND NORTHERN IRELAND
Council employers blame
national government for pay freeze and GMB warn Government that it
is not possible to deflate your way to growth and a balanced
budget
GMB commented on the announcement by
the Local Government employers today of the imposition of a pay
freeze for a second year for1.5 million local council workers in
England Wales and Northern Ireland.
Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary
for Public Services said "GMB members will be sickened by
the imposition of another year's pay freeze. These are some of the
lowest paid and hardest working people home helps, social workers,
school dinner ladies, refuse collectors.
These 1.5 million council
workers had a below inflation pay rises in April 2008 and 2009 and
a pay freeze in April 2010. With inflation still running high
council workers have now had a 10% real pay cut over the past 3
years leaving many of them in poverty. There will be now a meeting
of the full NJC to discuss the issue of pay in local
government.
The employers blame national
government for the continuing pay freeze. They said the claim for
an increase of £250 would cost £265m and that this would add to the
funding gap of £6.5 billion they face as a result of Government
spending cuts.
So on top of huge job losses
and attacks on their conditions and pensions its abject misery for
workers in local government while fat cat bankers who caused the
recession still rake in the bonuses.
At the level of the national
economy the Government should realize that it is not possible to
deflate your way to growth and a balanced budget. This message
needs to be sent loud and clear at the
TUCdemonstration on 26th March
and at the elections in May."
End
Contact: Brian
Strutton, GMB National Secretary 07860 606 137GMB Press Office:
Steve Pryle on 07921 289880 or Rose Conroy on 07974 25183