Unions Submit Local Government Pay Claim for Craft Workers

Unions representing 40,000 local government craft workers have submitted their annual pay claim.

The unions UCATT, Unite, the GMB and the CSEU are seeking a 7.5% pay increase over the next 12 months. In recent years the rates of skilled craft workers in local government have fallen far below the rates of skilled workers in the private sector. A fully skilled local government craft workers annual salary is just £13,972 whereas the private sector rate this year will rise to £20,888. A skilled local government carpenters rate is also substantially below that of a private sector labourer, whose pay will be £15, 717 from July 2008.

In a full and comprehensive pay claim the joint unions are also seeking a reduction in the working week, , a substantial increase in extra payments and allowances, increased holiday entitlement and an enhancement in the bereavement leave.

In order to address the growing skills shortage of craft workers in the public sector the unions are also calling for a large increase in the number of apprentices being trained in local government.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: “Skilled local government craft workers dedicate their lives to serve their local communities. They deserve to be paid fairly. The poverty rates of pay they have been forced to live on must be ended.”

John Allott, Unite National Officer, said: “The pay increase over the last four years have been below inflation and the pay gap between local authority craft workers and the private sector construction craft workers has widened alarmingly. This is unsustainable and unacceptable and needs to be addressed in this year’s pay round. Industrial action is a strong possibility if a below inflation offer is tabled again.”

GMB National Secretary, Brian Strutton, said: “Local government craft workers have had too many years of low pay. They won’t stomach another bad deal and councils need to take heed or face the industrial and political consequences.”

Last year craft workers in local government were reluctantly forced to accept a 2.475 per cent increase in paper, far below the rate of inflation. To add insult to injury the pay increase was finally delivered 9 months late.

To view the full pay and conditions claim click here.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235