Thanks as shop bids farewell
WEST Lancashire Borough Council has welcomed the discussion about increasing pay for local government staff but is calling on the Government to ensure it funds the extra expense it will create for all authorities.
In the first week of December the National Employers for Local Government Services (NELGS) made an offer of a two year pay deal to council staff.
The offer covers the two years from April 1 2018, and would mean a 2% wage rise next April for the majority of council staff and a further 2% in April 2019, with higher increases for lower paid staff.
The offers are being discussed by unions, who earlier this year asked for a 5% pay rise for local government staff.
In October 2017 West Lancashire Borough Council agreed a motion which noted that National Joint Council (NJC) basic pay has fallen by 21% since 2010 in real terms. NJC workers had a three-year pay freeze from 2010-2012 and NJC pay is the lowest in the public sector.
The motion also stated that this council:
Supports the NJC pay claim for 2018, submitted by UNISON, GMB and Unite on behalf of council and school workers and calls for the immediate end of public sector pay restraint. NJC pay cannot be allowed to fall further behind other parts of the public sector.
Welcomes the joint review of the NJC pay spine to remedy the turbulence caused by bottom-loaded pay settlements.
Notes the drastic ongoing cuts to local government funding and calls on the Government to provide additional funding to fund a decent pay rise for NJC employees and the pay spine review.
Cllr Ian Moran, leader of West Lancashire Borough Council, said: “West Lancashire Borough Council is always striving to be a good employer and welcomes discussions on improving pay for staff.
“But like other local authorities across the country we are facing ongoing reductions in government grant funding and other income.
“Therefore we are asking the Government to make sure it funds the extra cost of this pay rise.”
LEADING charity Cancer Research UK has issued a huge thank-you to the people of Ormskirk for supporting their local charity shop for 25 years.
The shop in Aughton Street, in Ormskirk, will close on December 23.
As well as the customers who have so generously donated goods and purchased items in its shop, the charity has also praised the team of staff and volunteers who have dedicated their time to making it such a success.
Since the Ormskirk Aughton Street shop opened in October 1991 it has generated income of more than £2.3m for Cancer Research UK’s lifesaving work.
Area manager Sarah Loughran said: “We are very sad to close the Cancer Research UK shop in Aughton Street, Ormskirk, due to redevelopment plans.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to the team of staff and volunteers who have given their time over the years and have done a fantastic job.
“We are actively looking for new premises in Ormskirk, but there is nothing suitable at the moment.
“Staff and volunteers have been made aware of the closure and the last day of trade is December 23.”
Loyal customers who still want to support Cancer Research UK are now invited to visit the charity’s Formby store on Chapel Street or the Southport store on Lord Street.
There are also other ways of volunteering for the charity, including at events such as Southport Race for Life at Princes Park on June, 3, 2018.
Sarah continued: “We’re very grateful for the support of the community over the years and we hope they’ll continue to support our work.
“Cancer Research UK receives no government funding for our lifesaving research and so we rely on the people who support us by shopping with us, making a donation or generously offering their time.”