AROUND 1.4 million council workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are facing a pay freeze for the second year running, it was announced today.
With inflation running at 4%, the freeze taking effect from April 1 amounts to a real-terms cut in pay for local government employees. It does not apply to teachers and firefighters, who are covered by separate national pay arrangements.
Unions had asked for a rise of at least £250 a year in 2011, which would have added £265 million - or 1.23% - to the local government pay bill, said employers.
Local Government employers blamed the freeze on swingeing cuts in central Government funding, which they say have left councils with a £6.5 billion shortfall this year.
Jan Parkinson, managing director of Local Government Employers, said: "Hard-working council employees help make local government the most efficient part of the public sector.
"This decision has not been taken lightly. Councils are facing extremely tough choices this year and have to ask their whole workforce to recognise the need to limit spending in all areas.’’
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