UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, is calling on the government to help the lowest paid by increasing the national minimum wage above the £6.31 threshold announced today. The union reiterated its call that the government sets the minimum wage at living wage rates.
The announcement highlights the ongoing issue of chronic low pay in local government – 28,300 people working for councils across the UK earn 6.30 per hour, 1p below the new national minimum wage rate set to come into force in October 2013.
Even those on these rock bottom wages in local government have not had a penny increase in wages for three long years – making the value of their pay 13% less than when the coalition came to power.
Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary, said: “Any relief for the lowest paid is welcome, but the government could have and should have gone further and announced a higher baseline for wages. This would have had the knock-on effect of boosting our economy.
“It is a disgrace that 28,000 hardworking local government staff now earn less than the rate which the government accepts is the minimum any worker in the UK should be paid.
“Amongst these 28,000 workers are carers, school meals workers and cleaners, all doing essential, demanding jobs that keep our communities running. It is no surprise that morale in local government is at rock bottom. What message does it give to these people about how their hard work is valued when they are paid at bargain-basement levels?
“It is time for local government employers to show their workforce some respect, as well as some compassion, and come back with a decent pay offer this year.”
