Local Government workers submit claim to help low paid

Unions representing 150,000 Scottish local council workers have lodged a claim for a one-year rise in 2010 of 3% or £600 (whichever is the greater) - and for all workers to be paid a living wage of at least £7.00 per hour.

UNISON Regional Officer and lead negotiator, Dougie Black, said “This claim is simply an attempt by our members, who include the lowest paid of Scotland’s council workers, to maintain their standard of living in the teeth of what is predicted to be increasing inflationary pressures.

“The RPI is forecast to steadily rise to 2.6% in the first quarter of 2010 before reaching 3.1% and we have already experienced the fact that increases in inflation - especially in basic necessities like food and fuel - impact particularly hard on low-paid members.

“Our members in have already delivered around £200m worth of efficiency savings with a loss of around 7,000 jobs. It is only fair that councils should share these efficiency savings with staff as well as with council tax payers.”

Stephanie Herd - Chair of UNISON’s Local Government Group said “Local councils have already agreed to pay their chief officials 2.5% over this period, and teaching staff 2.4%. “It would be invidious if our political leaders now try to make the lowest paid staff pay for the economic crisis.

“Bankers and fat cats in the city get help - it is time for hard-pressed public service workers to get that help.”

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