Unions representing over 1 million local government workers have demanded a substantial rise in next year's pay claim to counteract the impact of a two year pay freeze.

UNISON, Unite and GMB have lodged a pay claim to the National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland seeking redress for the effects of inflation. 

Their submission states rising living costs have wiped out relative gains made since 1998, causing workers to suffer an 11.6% pay cut.  Taking into account the loss of purchasing power, some 314,527 staff are paid less than the national minimum wage, it is asserted.

Heather Wakefield, UNISON's head of local government said low paid local government workers have suffered real financial hardship for two years and are struggling to make ends meet.

‘The cost of living has risen sharply but their pay has stayed the same.  If their pay is frozen for a third year and costs remain high, whole families will be pushed further into poverty.' 

Local government workers – 69% of the NJC workforce earns under £21,000 - had been denied the flat rate £250 increase promised by the Chancellor to cushion the blow of the continued pay freeze, she added.

Peter Allenson, national officer for Unite defended the pay claim as ‘justifiable and affordable', further asserting that union reps are reporting that town hall employers are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain the right staff around the country.

GMB General Secretary, Brian Strutton said: ‘With pay rates for council workers now just 22p above the national minimum wage and way below the rest of the public sector I know that GMB members need a decent pay rise in 2012 just to keep up with the cost of living.'