As the season of collective bargaining in local government pay approaches, Unite is recommending that its members reject the Government's pay offer of a 2% uplift from 1 April this year, with a further 2% to follow in 2019.

Some might question whether pay is really the greatest concern to many public employees. Public sector staff are regularly reported to be working at breaking point levels of stress. With recruitment rates at an all-time low in schools, and with many more nurses leaving than joining the profession, some would argue that workforce wellbeing would be better served by more investment in attracting and retaining the right staff.