NJC pay award – end the conspiracy of silence‏

As the settlement date of 1 April recedes further into the past, the 3 recognised NJC unions UNISON, GMB & Unite have challenged the three main political parties to ‘come clean’ on their plans for local government pay in England, Wales & Northern Ireland.

In a joint statement the unions have called on Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to say whether they would allow Local Government Employers (LGE) to persist with its policy of giving no annual pay award.

UNISON National Secretary for local government Heather Wakefield, said: ‘The Tory led employers want a widespread pay freeze, while the Tory leader says this will only be for those earning more than £18,000 – which one is it?’

More than 60% of Unison members fell below the £18,000 threshold.
Labour called for a 1% cap on public sector pay increases for two years, while the LibDems proposed a cap of £400 per person.

In January, the LGE refused to offer an annual pay increase in response to the three unions’ claim for a rise of 2.5%, or £500 a year - whichever is greater.
http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/04/parties-must-come-clean-on-public-sector-pay/