Category: local government

£300,000 in back pay for council and schools workers in Bolton

UNISON has secured a deal totalling almost £300,000 pounds in holiday pay for over 2,000 council workers and schools staff in Bolton.

The deal resolves a two-year disagreement between the union and Bolton council, after hundreds of workers’ holiday pay was miscalculated. 

Some workers have already received back pay in their April or May salary with others expected to receive backdated payments in June.

UNISON acting Branch Secretary for Bolton Christine Collins said: “I am delighted Bolton UNISON secured back pay of nearly £300,000 in holiday pay for over 2,000 workers.

“We know that many of our members have really struggled with rising living costs, especially after a decade of below-inflation pay rises, so the back pay could not come at a better time.

“We must not forget, however, that this is pay the workers were entitled to and should have received already.

“For us the law is crystal clear, employers must take account of additional payments including overtime and other enhancements throughout the year when calculating workers’ holiday pay.

“Bolton Council had failed to do this so it’s welcome news that they have accepted this principle. Following discussions with HR, we received a positive commitment to resolve this issue.”

UNISON representative Tony Cowell, who works in refuse collection for Bolton Council, added: “After two years of a constant battle, we got there in the end.

“I am really pleased that we have achieved this win for our workforce.”

The article £300,000 in back pay for council and schools workers in Bolton first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: We must stop this managed decline of local government

UNISON’s campaign for fair pay continues with full force today as we open our industrial action ballot of over 360,000 local government workers in England and Wales.

Once again, we’re up against restrictive anti-trade union laws that mean we need a big turnout and a big ‘yes’ vote to take strike action. So we’re doing all we can to get out the vote and beat those ballot thresholds.

Pay in councils and schools has fallen by 25% in real terms since 2010. And the employer’s below-inflation pay offer for 2023, goes nowhere near to making up for it, or to dealing with the rising cost of living. In fact, it represents another attempt at managed decline of the pay and standards in local government.

Workers are dedicated to supporting their communities, but they’re overworked and undervalued. For school support staff, half are actively looking for better paid work, many are in debt, and it’s common for people to work second or third jobs to make ends meet.

Low pay is a problem for employers too – they simply cannot recruit the staff they need, or hold onto them, when there are better paid and less stressful jobs elsewhere.

But giving a decent pay rise is affordable for the government. Tax cuts for big businesses and huge profits for gas and oil companies could be dealt with to raise money for local government pay. That would be a political choice that puts communities and workers first – a choice the current government has refused to make over the past 13 years.

We all know by now that common sense arguments don’t work with the Tories in Westminster. They live in a different world and are out of touch with millions of working people in the UK. So we must make every effort to take effective action, to force their hand.

Our members, activists and staff are taking on this challenge together. From today, all our collective efforts will be focused on this ballot, to get a ‘yes’ vote in as many councils as possible.

I know it’s a difficult decision to vote to take action and be prepared to lose a day’s pay, but we’ve won through strike action before in other public services, and I have every confidence we can do it again.

The article Blog: We must stop this managed decline of local government first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: We must stop this managed decline of local government

UNISON’s campaign for fair pay continues with full force today as we open our industrial action ballot of over 360,000 local government workers in England and Wales.

Once again, we’re up against restrictive anti-trade union laws that mean we need a big turnout and a big ‘yes’ vote to take strike action. So we’re doing all we can to get out the vote and beat those ballot thresholds.

Pay in councils and schools has fallen by 25% in real terms since 2010. And the employer’s below-inflation pay offer for 2023, goes nowhere near to making up for it, or to dealing with the rising cost of living. In fact, it represents another attempt at managed decline of the pay and standards in local government.

Workers are dedicated to supporting their communities, but they’re overworked and undervalued. For school support staff, half are actively looking for better paid work, many are in debt, and it’s common for people to work second or third jobs to make ends meet.

Low pay is a problem for employers too – they simply cannot recruit the staff they need, or hold onto them, when there are better paid and less stressful jobs elsewhere.

But giving a decent pay rise is affordable for the government. Tax cuts for big businesses and huge profits for gas and oil companies could be dealt with to raise money for local government pay. That would be a political choice that puts communities and workers first – a choice the current government has refused to make over the past 13 years.

We all know by now that common sense arguments don’t work with the Tories in Westminster. They live in a different world and are out of touch with millions of working people in the UK. So we must make every effort to take effective action, to force their hand.

Our members, activists and staff are taking on this challenge together. From today, all our collective efforts will be focused on this ballot, to get a ‘yes’ vote in as many councils as possible.

I know it’s a difficult decision to vote to take action and be prepared to lose a day’s pay, but we’ve won through strike action before in other public services, and I have every confidence we can do it again.

The article Blog: We must stop this managed decline of local government first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Local government workers are ‘everyday action heroes’

Every day, everyone’s lives are affected by local council staff. Our communities depend on the 1.3 million local government workers who spend their working lives looking out for others.

We may not see them when they’re working through the night, caring for older and disabled people, or at the crack of dawn when they’re clearing up our streets and parks to keep the environment clean and healthy, but the impact of their work is there when we wake up.

We don’t get to see every minute they dedicate to educating our children and keeping them safe, or to running council services like housing, libraries, and social services, but we rely on them to keep the cogs turning.

We entrust them with some of the most precious people in our lives, and the most precious places, because they are our every day heroes.

When I speak to our members working for local authorities across the UK, they tell me that, although they love their work, they often feel taken for granted. They feel like the silent workers who are often on the sharp end of criticism from the public.

They don’t do it for the prestige, they do it for the difference they can make to people’s lives, every day – but greater understanding from the public would go a long way to making their jobs easier.

It’s UNISON’s job to make sure their work is valued and understood. It’s also our job to make sure they’re treated fairly at work and we campaign all year round to protect the public services they provide.

So today, we’re launching lifelike action figures of crossing warden Sandy, librarian Emma, residential care worker Denise and refuse worker Richard, to recognise the ‘everyday action heroes’ that are our local council workers.

Every community has a Sandy, an Emma, a Denise, and a Richard dedicating their working lives to keeping everyone safe and supported. We saw the extent of their dedication through Covid-19. They went to work – exposed to risks – so that others could stay at home safely. Their colleagues are heroes too, and as Denise says in the video, UNISON makes members feel like they’re not alone.

With these action figures, we hope we can encourage the public, and politicians, to appreciate their superhuman efforts, just as much as UNISON does.

Watch and share the video

Find the cartoon strip on Twitte

The article Local government workers are ‘everyday action heroes’ first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Local government workers are ‘everyday action heroes’

Every day, everyone’s lives are affected by local council staff. Our communities depend on the 1.3 million local government workers who spend their working lives looking out for others.

We may not see them when they’re working through the night, caring for older and disabled people, or at the crack of dawn when they’re clearing up our streets and parks to keep the environment clean and healthy, but the impact of their work is there when we wake up.

We don’t get to see every minute they dedicate to educating our children and keeping them safe, or to running council services like housing, libraries, and social services, but we rely on them to keep the cogs turning.

We entrust them with some of the most precious people in our lives, and the most precious places, because they are our every day heroes.

When I speak to our members working for local authorities across the UK, they tell me that, although they love their work, they often feel taken for granted. They feel like the silent workers who are often on the sharp end of criticism from the public.

They don’t do it for the prestige, they do it for the difference they can make to people’s lives, every day – but greater understanding from the public would go a long way to making their jobs easier.

It’s UNISON’s job to make sure their work is valued and understood. It’s also our job to make sure they’re treated fairly at work and we campaign all year round to protect the public services they provide.

So today, we’re launching lifelike action figures of crossing warden Sandy, librarian Emma, residential care worker Denise and refuse worker Richard, to recognise the ‘everyday action heroes’ that are our local council workers.

Every community has a Sandy, an Emma, a Denise, and a Richard dedicating their working lives to keeping everyone safe and supported. We saw the extent of their dedication through Covid-19. They went to work – exposed to risks – so that others could stay at home safely. Their colleagues are heroes too, and as Denise says in the video, UNISON makes members feel like they’re not alone.

With these action figures, we hope we can encourage the public, and politicians, to appreciate their superhuman efforts, just as much as UNISON does.

Watch and share the video

Find the cartoon strip on Twitter

This is one of many reasons why NJC workers deserve and inflation busting pay rise. Find out more at the campaign page below:

NJC: Council and school pay 2023

The article Local government workers are ‘everyday action heroes’ first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Council workers assemble … ‘everyday action hero’ figures launched by UNISON

  • UNISON is recognising unsung heroes for their contribution to the community by launching lifelike action figures of council workers
  • Each ‘everyday action hero’ figure comes complete with outfit, props, and comic strip designed by a renowned Marvel artist
  • The limited-edition figurines include a community care worker, lollipop lady, librarian and refuse worker
  • The union is raising awareness of the important role local councils play in providing essential services

Care workers, crossing wardens, librarians and refuse workers – they’re among the unsung heroes today (Thursday) being recognised for their role in our communities.

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, has immortalised these neighbourhood stars as realistic action figurines, recognising them for their tireless work delivering the local services day after day that many either take for granted or fail to notice.

The exclusive superhero figures have been created with advanced 3D printing technology in the exact likeness of specially chosen council workers from English and Welsh local authorities.

The collectibles come complete with fully moveable limbs, dressed in their work outfits and feature accessories that mimic the real-life tools of their trade.

UNISON’s four ‘everyday action hero’ figures are:

  • Residential care worker Denise who is dressed in her uniform and carrying a service tray
  • Crossing warden Sandy head-to-toe in fluorescent colours, complete with the familiar ‘lollipop’ stop sign
  • Librarian Emma accessorised with a trolley of books
  • Refuse worker Richard equipped with a mini wheelie bin.

Each limited-edition action figure is housed in an individually designed box featuring comic artwork bringing the character to life, based on the duties of each of the workers.

Designed by renowned Marvel artist Will Sliney, the packaging and an accompanying cartoon strip detail how each of the workers – like so many council staff – are everyday heroes in their local authority areas.

Crossing warden Sandy Cox said: “It’s absolutely amazing to see myself in action hero form. The figures are so lifelike.”

“Workers like me love what we do, and I’m so proud to make an important contribution to the community.“

UNISON hopes the creation of the action figures will encourage the public to think more about the vital role council workers play in their local communities and appreciate them more.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Council staff are incredibly passionate about their roles at the heart of communities. But all too often their contributions are overlooked, which can be frustrating for key workers who just want to do all they can to help others.

“For many local authority employees, demands are increasing while council budgets are squeezed. Turning them into action heroes is a great way to put the focus on their superhuman efforts.”

Around 1.3 million people work in local government across England and Wales. Councils provide a vast range of services including planning, waste collection, environmental health, libraries, parks, youth work and social care.

Notes to editors:
–  Images are available here.
– Participants in the project were:
Sandy Cox, 56, lives near Doncaster and has been a crossing warden for Rotherham Council for nine years. She has also been a dinner lady at Maltby Lilly Hall Academy for twelve years. She said: “I don’t think people fully realise all the valuable work councils do. It’s like when you see swans gliding along but underneath there’s furious paddling going on to keep things moving. I really love my job and I’m very proud to do what I do. I’m so passionate about road safety and I think there’s a lack of understanding about it for many younger people. There’s no longer a focus on the green cross code, which is why we’re so essential. And I’m not just helping the children across the road. I’m also helping the parents, the carers and the grandparents. I can’t stop looking at my action figure. It’s amazing. It’s like I’ve been turned into a Madame Tussauds waxwork and shrunk!”
Emma Braker, 35, lives in Birmingham and works for Birmingham City Council at Sutton Coldfield library. She’s been assistant library manager for four years and prior to that she was a library assistant for twelve. She said: “I feel really passionate about the importance of libraries. Their significance is so often overlooked. There’s a stereotype that we’re there to stamp books but really, we act as a hub for loads of different services. It’s anything and everything. We could be lending an ear when people are having problems or providing IT support. They might need information about the local area, tourism advice or even help with the answers to their crossword puzzle. You never know what’s next, but I love it and I am very loyal to the library service. Because we’re front-of-house staff we do sometimes find people come to us with their frustrations. We have to be mindful of the situations they’re in and what they may be going through. We try to be as helpful and kind as we possibly can and point them in whatever direction they need to go. I think the figure is brilliant. I’ve shown it to family and friends, and they think it’s fantastic.”
Denise King, 40, lives in Dunstable and works for Central Bedfordshire Council providing residential care for adults with profound disabilities. She initially studied nursing but had to stop her training because of a health condition and moved into social care. Denise has completed two apprenticeships while at the council. She said: “I really love my job and I really like to help people. Even if I’ve had a really tough day I can look back and know that I’ve made a positive difference to other people’s lives. I think often there’s a view that everyone just expects council services to keep moving but they don’t really consider the people who make them run smoothly. It’s important they’re recognised.”
Richard Brace, 33, lives in Neath and has worked for Neath Port Talbot Council for more than nine years. He began as a litter picker, moved into the recycling team and after getting his HGV licence four years ago went on to bin collections. He said: “I think people just take council workers for granted and it’s like we’re working in the shadows. But once they talk to us and get an understanding of what we’re doing, they appreciate us more. There’s a lot of lifting and it’s hard work. We’re under a lot of strain both physically and mentally, because we occasionally get a hard time from some members of the public. But I really enjoy what I do. I absolutely love the action figure. It’s been a lot of fun working on this.”
– The figures have been created in a limited-edition run and are not commercially available.
UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors. For more information visit unison.org.uk.

Media contacts:
Alex Butler E: alex.butler@taylorherring.com M: 07584 163875
Catriona Barnard E: catriona.barnard@taylorherring.com) M: 07857152327
Anthony Barnes E: press@unison.co.uk M: 07834 864794

The article Council workers assemble … ‘everyday action hero’ figures launched by UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Insourcing win at Barnet council

Staff at Barnet council are due to be transferred back to council employment thanks to a decade-long campaign by UNISON.

The 330 affected workers are currently employed by outsourcing multinational conglomerate, Capita, and are being brought back in house after the council was used as a test case for the outsourcing of local government services.

The staff who work under a joint venture called ‘Capita Re’ in a variety of areas like trading standards, environmental health, planning highways and other regulatory services, will be TUPE transferred back in house on 1 April this year.

In 2012, much of the service provision at the council was outsourced to Capita on decade-long contracts by the Conservative-controlled council, with the intervening 10 years marred by several controversies including a multi-million-pound fraud and contracts running vastly over budget.

Barnet’s UNISON branch has campaigned for services to be brought back in-house since the contracts were initially handed to Capita and there have already been major in-sourcing successes at the council.

In May last year, Labour won control of the council after 20 years of Conservative leadership and, though the contracts had already been due to end next year, the new council has fast-tracked plans by six months to bring some services back in house.

John Burgess, Barnet local government branch secretary, said: “This is good news for staff, good news for residents and good news for the services. I welcome the decision and look forward to welcoming back all the services back into Barnet Council where they all belong.

“For a decade, our branch has campaigned for local government services at Barnet to be brought back in-house and, while we are happy that this latest has been fast tracked, there are still many issues to address for our members who are being TUPE’d.

“These include workplace inequalities such as staff being paid differently for the same role. Barnet UNISON is already seeking discussions with the council about harmonisation of the terms and conditions of the TUPE’d workforce.

“During the worst cost of living crisis in 75 years it is imperative that our branch does it best to look after the interests of our members transferring back into the council.”

The article Insourcing win at Barnet council first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Christopher Eccleston celebrates UNISON’s Champions Day

The first UNISON Champions Day is being held today, 7 December, to celebrate and defend local government workers for the everyday heroes they are and extend the work of the union’s Local Service Champions campaign.

Up and down the country, workplaces will be holding coffee mornings, profiling the work of their champions in local news, and inviting MPs to events to celebrate and raise the profile of local government workers.

For the day, UNISON has released a special film of last year’s Local Service Champions award winner, Paddy Toner, a rehabilitation worker from Halton, being interviewed by British film, TV and stage star Christopher Eccleston.

The actor, of Doctor Who and Our Friends in the North fame, is passionate about the work that public service workers do and was keen to shine a light on the vital impact of these workers, which has been overlooked for so long.

In the interview, Paddy and Christopher talk about what rehabilitation workers do, the value of public services in local communities and the struggles that many councils are facing with the looming threat of further budget cuts after 12 years of austerity.

Christopher Eccleston

Watch the video here

UNISON is encouraging branches, members and the public to get involved. Even if it’s too late to organise or go along to events in your area, you can still get involved online by posting your support on social media using the hashtag #ChampionsDay.

Meanwhile, nominations for the Local Service Champion awards 2023 also opened today – now is the chance to thank someone working in authority services who has really made a difference in their role so why not nominate an everyday hero you feel deserves to win.

Submit your nominations here

The article Christopher Eccleston celebrates UNISON’s Champions Day first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Council workers accept deal that will give lowest-paid 10.5%

Local government trade unions today accepted a pay offer that will see hundreds of thousands of workers, over 350,000 of whom are UNISON members, paid an extra £1,925 this year, equating to a 10.5% increase for the lowest-paid workers.

UNISON, GMB and Unite make up the trade union side of the national joint council (NJC) that negotiates pay for the majority of local government workers. After consulting their members over the last two months, the unions met today and agreed to accept the offer from the employer, the Local Government Association (LGA).

The award is the highest offered to NJC workers in over a decade with local government workers bearing years of below inflation pay offers and pay freezes which have seen them lose over 25% from the value of their pay since 2010.

It will be backdated to 1 April 2022 and averages out to around 7% across the pay spine with the flat rate seeing those at the bottom of the spine (the lowest paid) receive a 10.5% increase with those at the top, just over 4%.

It also includes a 4% increase to allowances, backdated to 1 April 2022, with a one day increase to the annual leave of all employees coming into effect on 1 April 2023 and the removal of the bottom pay-point on the same date.

While this offer almost meets the government’s target of the minimum wage hitting two-thirds of median earning by 2024 (estimated to be around £10.70), it means the bottom three points on the pay scale will still fall below the Foundation Living Wage rate of £10.90.

Speaking of the pay deal, UNISON national secretary for local government Mike Short said: “UNISON members voted clearly to accept this pay offer, and it will come as a welcome relief to many of our members – particularly those who are lower-paid – that it has been agreed before the holiday period.

“Our immediate priority, now, is to get the money into the pay packets of workers as soon as possible, to help deal with the rapidly rising cost of living and move into the next pay round.

“We know there is much more to do, as this pay settlement is still below inflation and we will be looking to submit a pay claim for 2023 as soon as practically possible, so the employers have no excuse for delaying making an offer, next year.

“We will be expecting that offer to meet our members’ needs and address the massive pressure they are facing due to the rate of inflation.”

The article Council workers accept deal that will give lowest-paid 10.5% first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Scottish council staff back industrial action

Thousands of council workers across Scotland have voted to take industrial action, UNISON announced yesterday. The decision comes after the the largest strike ballot among council workers in over a decade.

The action will disrupt schools, early years centres, nurseries and waste and recycling centres across the country.

UNISON members in all councils across Scotland overwhelmingly voted to reject the final offer of 2% from COSLA – the Scottish local government employers’ association – with nine local authority branches exceeding the required 50% turnout threshold required by the Trade Union Act.

UNISON head of local government in Scotland Johanna Baxter said: “COSLA leaders meet on Friday and must put an improved offer on the table if we are to avoid large-scale disruption to council services across Scotland.

“Council workers south of the border were offered a flat rate uplift of £1,925 [Monday], which for those on the lowest pay equates to a 10.5% increase. You have to wonder why council workers north of the border have only been offered a measly 2% increase when the cost of living continues to spiral.

“UNISON has been calling for a flat rate payment to help those on lower incomes. Most council workers earn less than £25k per year.”

Ms Baxter said that it was clear that local government workers have “had enough and are prepared to strike in the coming weeks unless we see a sensible offer on the table on Friday.

“This is the largest strike ballot by local government workers in over a decade and the first-time workers across Scotland have voted to take strike action in these numbers. It really shouldn’t take this for them to receive the recognition, respect and reward that they deserve.”

The article Scottish council staff back industrial action first appeared on the UNISON National site.