City workers to rally for better wages
Council staff in Sunderland are to lobby a meeting which will discuss their pay.
Ten Labour members of Sunderland City Council have backed a motion proposed by Barnes Councillor Rebecca Atkinson, calling on the Government to “immediately end” the public sector pay cap.
This week it was announced that the cap on public sector pay rises in England and Wales is to be lifted, with ministers being given “flexibility” to breach the long standing 1 per cent limit.
The Government has said police officers would get a 1 per cent rise plus a 1 per cent bonus, with prison officers getting a 1.7 per cent rise – both funded from existing budgets.
The motion on council staff in Sunderland will be put to the full council meeting for discussion in the chamber of the Civic Centre at 6pm tomorrow.
Coun Atkinson said: “Public sector workers have seen their pay rise by only 4.4 per cent since 2010 yet the cost of living has risen by 22 per cent. Theresa May has continually told the British Public there is no magic money tree to end austerity – yet when the need arises to secure her own tenure of office, with one wave of that non-existent magic money tree wand, a £1billion is conjured up to cement a sweetheart deal with the DUP.”
Ahead of the meeting, members of Unite and Unison trade unions plan to rally outside to show their support for the call and will also attend the discussions.
John Kelly, the branch secretary of Sunderland City Council’s Unite members, said: “Local councils up and down the country have lost more than 750,000 workers since 2010. Those employees who still have jobs are now dealing with increased workloads, as well as shrinking pay.”
Diane Peacock, branch secretary of Unison’s Sunderland branch, added: “As branch secretary I have seen a massive increase in welfare applications, which is a charity that is unique to Unison, for school uniforms, emergency dental treatment.
“What is worrying these were not low-paid staff previously, but are now just 50p from the living wage.”