NORWICH CITY UNISON

Local Government Employers (LGE) have written to the trade union side of the National Joint Council (NJC) stating it has chosen to make no pay offer for 2011/12. 

This is in response to the pay claim for £250 for all staff – a meagre rise of 1% at the top of the pay spine.  As a further blow, the LGE have stated there will be no compensatory £250 for those earning less than £21,000 as promised by the chancellor in the 2010 emergency budget.

Pay is one of the issues of concern to our members, particularly as rises in inflation and costs of living mean that no offer means a pay cut in real terms. The value of the minimum scale point (£6.30) is predicted to drop to £5.53 by March 2012 using the current rate of RPI – below the current minimum wage (£5.93).

This is just one of the reasons why the LGE should acknowledge the good quality services provided by our members. Here are some more… 

• Other public sector workers that earn less than £21,000 will get the £250 increase 


• 70% of NJC workers earn less than £21,000 


• Many authorities have already budgeted for the £250 increase or more 


• We have had below inflation pay awards for 5 of the last 7 years 


• Inflation is running high – CPI is 4% and RPI is 5.5%

The trade union side of the NJC has requested an urgent meeting with employers. In the meantime here’s what you can do… 

• Tell your colleagues about this briefing


• Make sure you get non-members in your workplace to join UNISON 


• Write to your MP, councillor and council leader highlighting the poor treatment we are facing. A model letter is available here (see page 6)  


• Email UNISON to register your anger over this ‘choice’ – L.Government@unison.co.uk 


• Sign up to UNISON’s Million Voices campaign at http://www.unison.org.uk/million 


• Come and march for the alternative on 26 March – see more information here