|
03-Jun-08 11:30 [Pay and Reward]
Local government staff accept pay deal Britain's General Union (GMB) has announced that its local government members have voted to accept a 2.45 per cent pay rise.
Members voted four-to-one to accept the deal, which also includes a 3.3 per cent pay rise for workers whose earnings fall in the lowest three spinal column points which are, four, five and six.
The pay rise became controversial after Unison stated that the government's two per cent offer was too low in the current financial climate, as such the pay rise has been backdated to April 2008.
However, Brian Strutton, GMB national secretary, accepted the pay rise with caution, stating: "Let there be no doubt that this pay offer is only being accepted because the alternative would be strike action and many GMB members cannot afford to lose pay to go on strike."
He added that the vote to accept the pay deal was much narrower than last year and members are "sick" of pay rises that do not match the cost of living.
Last week, workers at British Waterways voted overwhelmingly to accept a 3.5 per cent pay rise and an extra day's holiday as part of their pay package deal, according to Unison.
Please click here for news on pay and reward
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has highlighted the fact that there are 600,000 job vacancies across the country, adding that it is to aid people in their attempts to return to work.
Find out more>
An increasing number of people are doing away with pension and insurance contributions as the credit crunch looms large, it has been understood.
Find out more>
The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has listed four areas where UK pensions regulation is "out of step" with other international practices.
Find out more>
|
