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LocalGovt151014
T
he decISIoN of the GMB, UNIte
and UNISoN unions to call off the
14 october strikes is a serious
setback in the fght for a decent pay rise.
The strike would have seen hundreds of
thousands of local government workers join
a week of industrial action by NHS workers
and civil service workers, culminating with
the TUC demonstration over pay in London
on 18 October.
The last seven years have seen our pay
massively reduced alongside job losses and
privatisation. We are being asked to work
harder, with bigger workloads, under more
pressure.
The strike was a fantastic chance to raise
the confdence of local government workers
to fght back against all these attacks. Many
union branches have reported increases in
membership in the run up to strike day both
in July and October.
The proposal, of a 2.2 percent increase
over two years with more for the very lowest
paid, delivers no more than the
1 percent already offered for most workers
in 2014-2015 and slightly less than
1.2 percent for 2015-16. It effectively
accepts pay restraint not only this year
but through the frst 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.
The proposal fails to deliver the Living
Wage for the lowest paidand indeed
in those authorities where it has already
been achieved the lowest paid could get no
increase at all.
So, why did our union leaders say that
1 percent is a disgrace in July but not in
October?

election
The reason is that the employers
organisation came under Labour control. Ed
Milliband and Ed Balls wanted to avoid a
pay strike in the run up to a general election
and no fght over pay in the frst year of a
potential Labour government.
It seems our trade union leaders may
have seen their loyalty to Labour as more
important than fghting for the members.
It also seems that there is an
overwhelming pessimism about our ability
to fght and win, despite the evidence that
when we give a clear lead our members
respond brilliantly.
We need to ensure that the forthcoming
consultation of members sees a rejection of
this rotten deal.
After 14 October strike is suspended...
NhS strikers at University college London hospital
Reject
We need to campaign hard across the
country to reject the offer and restore
coordinated industrial action.
There is a growing revolt in Unison
calling for rejection. A growing number of
branches have passed motions rejecting the
proposal including Manchester, Islington,
Havering and Birmingham. The North West
region as a whole has now passed rejection.
A statement has been produced which
you can sign and circulate here: http://
bit.ly/1wyzwnN You will also fnd some
example motions there.
A meeting has been called to discuss
building the rejection campaign for directly
after Saturdays TUC march in London (see
details below).
And once the action is back on we need a
programme of strikes that can really put the
employers under pressure.
The coalition government is ripping
itself apart as the Lib Dems and the Tories
distance themselves from each other in the
run up to the general election. Now is not
the time to retreat. As Ukip gain their frst
MP the trade union and labour movement
must be at the forefront of fghting austerity,
low pay and racism.
Local Government workers deserve better
than this lack of leadership and we need to
reject these proposals.
2.2 percent increase payable from 1
Jan 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 percent to
2.32 percent).
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
percent for 2014-15.
details of the proposal:
After the tUc march...
Meeting for Unison members in Local
Government to discuss building pay
proposal rejection campaign. From
2.30pm, The Duke of Kendal pub, 38
Connaught Street, London, W2 2AF