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

Over 80,000 children face year-long waits for community health appointments

By Emily Whitehouse | 23 October 2026

More than 80,000 children and young people in England have waited over a year from community health appointments, according to the Care Quality Commission's ...

PAY

Local government seeks SEND deficit clarity ahead of Budget

By Martin Ford | 22 October 2026

Local government has called for clarity on deficits arising from special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services in next week’s Budget.

PAY

Local government: Taking the lead

By Dr Catherine Howe | 22 October 2026

As the sector awaits the arrival of a devolution White Paper expected to contain a blueprint for shifting power from the centre, this week The MJ is launchin...

PAY

Delivering a housing revolution with depleted capacity

By Vikhram Singh | 22 October 2026

With bold housing ambitions being promoted by the Government, Vikhram Singh says the sector needs to be honest about what can be delivered today – and that l...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman

-->