Trade unions have applied for a £1,000 flat rate pay rise for their local authority members.
This represents a 6.4 per cent increase on last year’s pay deal and is weighted towards lower paid staff.
The unions, which include Unison, T&G and GMB, admit that it is a big pay claim.
The Employer’s Organisation for Local Government now starts a process of consultation with its local authority members, and discussions with the unions start in February.
By Paul Nelson