Town hall calls for end to public sector pay cut
JON MACPHERSON
HYNDBURN council is to write to the government calling for an end to the public sector pay squeeze, and ‘proper funding for public services’.
Councillors from all political parties unanimously approved a motion at a full council meeting, demanding the restoration of independence for pay review bodies and a ‘Real Living Wage’ of at least £10 per hour for all public sector workers.
Coun Glen Harrison claimed workers have lost thousands of pounds from a decade-long pay squeeze, with women the most affected.
Proposing the motion, Coun Harrison told the meeting that there was ‘no democratic mandate for this scale of cuts’ and estimated the total real terms cost to the average public sector worker pay will rise to £4,073 by 2020.
He said: “Pay squeezes in the public sector have now been in force for almost a decade, with the real terms impact on workers running into thousands of pounds of cuts.
“The government can afford to end the pay cap early. By reversing its cuts to Corporation Tax rates, the government could meet the £8.5 billion needed in this Parliament to end the pay squeeze across the whole public sector.
“The public supports an end to the pay squeeze. Independent polling carried out by Survation found that 75 per cent of all voters support aboveinflation increases in public sector pay, including 69 per cent of Conservative voters.
“The government needs to take responsibility and fully fund increases in pay; it should not put the burden on public sector employers such as local authorities whose funding has been cut to the bone.”
Seconding the motion, Coun Stewart Eaves said many in the public sector are ‘feeling less equal than others’ after the government pledged to increase pay for only police and prison officers above the 1pc pay cap.
He added: “[Theresa May] is quick to shake the money tree when she needs to.
“She is willing to make a 20 million Euro transitional payment to pave the way for Brexit.
“She has also given a £1 billion allowance to the DUP to prop up her ragtag government. And mark my words the DUP will come back with their begging bowl and Mother Theresa will have to give.”
Conservative group leader councillor Tony Dobson said: “The Conservative group support this motion in full.”