An interim pay award for council staff was announced by the Local Government Employers body and trade unions this afternoon.
But separate negotiations between the Local Government Employers body and public sector union Unison concluded at lunchtime today, when a pay increase of 2.45% backdated to April was announced for all local authority staff, to arrive in pay packets in December.
Jim Savege, who advises the Local Government Employers negotiations board, told Personnel Today that two councils and approximately 30 local authorities had already implemented the pay increase, with more expected to join them next week.
“Rather than continue to wait for national negotiations to conclude, we want to make progress, and a growing number of authorities will be following those councils’ leads shortly,” he said.
Stephen Moir, director of people and policy at Cambridgeshire County Council, announced the 2.45% interim pay increase for non-management staff yesterday.
“This has the backing of our local trade union branches and is in recognition of the pressures faced by our staff and their families at present,” Moir said.
Councillors from throughout the country voted on the deal, which will provide employees of local authorities an interim pay increase until dispute resolution service Acas makes its final decision.
A spokeswoman for Unison said the decision may not come until 2009, but said it was a positive step.
“We have been pushing for an agreement to ensure local government workers get an increase now, so this is helping people in advance of the Acas decision,” the spokeswoman said.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
“However, [the increase of 2.45%] won’t have any bearing on the case.”
