The wage-packets of council staff have been slashed by 13% in the last three years, trade union Unison has claimed - ahead of tomorrow's crunch pay meeting with local government employers.

According to a report commissioned by Unison from the New Policy Institute, town hall pay is now back at 1990s levels following below inflation settlements, the two-year pay freeze and the failure to pass on £250 promised by Chancellor George Osborne to public sector staff on salaries less than £21,000 in June 2010.