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LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY OFFER A “DISAPPOINTMENT"
UNIONS
representing more than a million local government workers in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland, expressed disappointment at a
revised pay offer of 2.45% for the majority of staff, with 3% for
those on the bottom 3 points. Members of GMB, UNISON and
Unite, who include home care workers, teaching assistants, nursery
nurses, library staff, park keepers and bin men, have already
endured 4 years below inflation pay deals.
Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said:-
“Local Government employers need to wake up to the fact that 2.45%
is not a realistic or fair offer.
The value of local government
workers’ wages are falling while the cost of essentials such as
food, energy and housing are spiraling.
Even with the bottom
loading, the lowest pay rate in local government will still be less
than Tesco’s.
Our members should have had an increase in their
pay packets this month.
The employers should come back to the table
with a decent offer and allow local government members to get back
to their jobs caring for the public and delivering quality public
services.
We will be consulting our members on what course of action
they want to take at a national meeting next week. ”
GMB National Secretary, Brian Strutton, said:- “GMB is very
disappointed with this cheapskate offer.
Those at the top of local
government have had 11% pay rises over the past two years, beating RPI, while the rest of local government has had half that.
The
hard-working people delivering front-line council services to the
public deserve better.
GMB will put this to a national conference of
stewards on 24 April 2008 to determine our stance.
Then we will consult
our members to see if they want to accept the offer or take strike
action.”
Unite the union said it would consult its members on what is
considered to be a derisory offer and another pay cut.
“This is the pay policy of the madhouse where public sector
pay cuts have had no bearing whatsoever on inflation which is rising
not falling,” said Peter Allenson, Unite national organiser
for public services. “However this is dressed up it is
yet another pay cut to the low paid workers in local government at a
time when a chief executive is appointed with a 46 per cent pay hike
and record numbers of senior managers are earning more than the
Prime Minister.”
The 2004-2007 pay agreements gave an increase of 11.4% over three
years, during which inflation rose by 12.5% and average earnings by
13.4%. The 2007 to 2008 award was for 2.475% and 3% for the lowest paid, inflation was more than 4% over that period. |
SCHOOLS IN MERSEYSIDE BEAT THE AFTERNOON BLUES
OVER 60% of
13 to 16 year olds in Merseyside spend the hours of 4pm to 6pm getting
bored, according to research by Youth Research Agency Dubit. 80% of
local young people regularly spend this after school period in front
of the television but 43% wish they were on the television rather
than watching it, citing drama as the activity they would most like
to do regularly after school.
With 81% of young people in the area stating that they’d like to
take part in more after-school activities and wishing their school
offered more, the solution to boredom could be closer to hand than
expected. Schools are changing and are already proving to be the
answer to beating the afternoon blues for young people throughout
the country. The research carried out as part of the Department for
Children, Schools and Families’, ‘Altogether Better for Children’
campaign showed that in areas where schools offered some of the best
access to activities, fewer young people said they were bored.
Over 10,000 schools in England are offering extra activities and
services that you might not expect and by 2010 all schools will
offer them. From sports coaching, to after-school clubs and from
arts and crafts to enterprise opportunities, schools are becoming
the hub of the community.
West End Actress Amy Nuttall, who is supporting the campaign,
commented:- “Having the opportunity to take part in extra
activities like drama and arts classes can open up a whole new world
for young people, inspiring future actors and musicians. I know my
love for acting started young and if I hadn’t had the opportunities
I did when I was younger I would never be on the West End stage
now!”
Beverley Hughes, Minister of State for Children, Young People and
Families commented:- “The way in which schools are changing
makes real sense for the whole community. Research proves that
schools offering an extended range of services improve education,
social and well-being chances for young people as well as having a
positive impact on the whole community. The Government has
committed £1.3bn for extended schools over the next two years and
over 10,000 schools are already providing an excellent range of
extended services.”
Over 10,000 schools are already proving what a good thing an
extended range of services are with a varied menu of activities
before and after school from 8am to 6pm. Activities range from
homework clubs, sport, music, arts and crafts or other special
interest clubs, volunteering or business and enterprise activities
all in a safe place.
Graham Holley, Chief Executive of the Training and Development
Agency for Schools said:- “Children who take part in
stimulating, rewarding activities after school tend to perform
better in the classroom. Independent evaluation and Ofsted have
shown the positive impact that extended services can have, including
improved pupil attendance, confidence, motivation and attainment and
reduced exclusion rates.
I am delighted that this important
10,000 milestone has been reached. It demonstrates that more and
more schools are seeing that extended provision is part of their
core business and the TDA is supporting them in delivering this.”
Contact your local school to find out what is happening in your
local area, or refer to
www.direct.gov.uk/parents. |
