Title

PAY

Research shows drop in council pay over past decade

Frontline staff in local government have had their pay fall by around £1,500 in real terms over the past decade, new research has revealed.

Frontline staff in local government have had their pay fall by around £1,500 in real terms over the past decade, new research has revealed today.

Analysis by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) found that since 2010 pay for a care worker in local government is down £1,490 while a refuse collector has had their pay drop by £1,519 in real terms.

The research also found one in five key workers are considering leaving their job due to a 'toxic mix' of low pay, excessive workloads and lack of recognition.

Of those thinking about quitting, 57% said it was because they felt undervalued while 43% said it was because the pay was too low.

For those working in health and social care, 40% said they were considering leaving their job because of the strain of excessive work.

The TUC called on the Government to give council workers a 'decent' pay rise, ensure all outsourced workers are paid the real Living Wage and raise the national minimum wage to £10 per hour.

PAY

Deadlock over December deadline

By Joe Lepper | 08 September 2026

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is bullish on enforcing a statutory deadline of December for councils to submit their local plans, ...

PAY

Devolution is transforming transport and more in the Liverpool City Region

By Richard McGuckin | 07 September 2026

As the Liverpool City Region moves ‘to take control of buses, refresh our entire transport fleet, develop infrastructure and builds a transport network that ...

PAY

Pepper, me and the UK care crisis

By Julia Ross | 04 September 2026

Julia Ross shares the story behind the creation of her tale of robots, safeguarding, loneliness and social care.

PAY

Replumbing Britain's growth model: how to unlock place-based investment

By Katie Johnston | 03 September 2026

Katie Johnston looks at unlocking place-based investment by giving local leaders greater capital control.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman