Motion on Local Government NJC dispute
This branch condemns the decision taken by UNISON’s NJC
committee to suspend strike action on 14 October and consult on new
“proposals”. We believe that this is a profound mistake that leaves Local
Government workers facing further real cuts in pay and undermines the battle
against government imposed pay restraint.
The proposal, of a 2.2% increase for most workers over two
years with more for the very lowest paid, delivers no more than the 1% already
offered for most workers in 2014/2015 and slightly less than 1.2% for 2015/16.
It effectively accepts pay restraint not only this year but through the first
year of the next government.
We believe that what
is proposed cannot be seriously considered as a basis for a settlement:
• 2.2%
increase payable from 1/1/2015, covering pay years 2014/15 and 2015/2016.
• Larger
increases for the very lowest paid on Spinal column points 5 – 10 (from 8.56%
to 2.32%)
• No back
pay but unconsolidated payments of £100 for most workers, £150 for scp 8-10 and
£325 for scp 5-7.
• Further
small unconsolidated payments in April 2015 to bring the amount paid up to the
equivalent of 1% for 2014/15
The proposal fails to deliver the Living Wage for the lowest
paid – and indeed in those authorities where it has already been achieved the
lowest paid could get no increase at all.
Calling off the action just as health workers were set to
strike as part of a coordinated week of action leading up to the TUC
demonstration “Britain Needs a Pay Rise” on the basis of such a proposal, that
the NJC committee themselves could not recommend to members, makes no sense.
We agree
1) To
recommend rejection of the proposals and reinstatement of industrial action,
coordinated with other unions where possible.
2) To use
all the resources of the branch to campaign for this in the consultation
process
3) To urge
regions and branches to exercise their
democratic right to recommend and campaign for the same
4) To
continue to build solidarity for health workers, civil servants and others
still due to take action on pay and to build for the TUC “Britain Needs a Pay
Rise” demonstration on 18 October.
Passed unanimously by Islington
ReplyDeleteThis Branch Committee condemns the National decision to suspend the strike planned and organised for 14th October based on the employers latest pay proposals which do not come anywhere near to addressing our pay claim and are nowhere near to even covering the current inflation rate and that expected next year.
This Branch Committee agrees to raise our objections at Regional and National level to the last minute decision to call off the action agreed by members. If the proposals were agreed this would lock the union into taking no action on pay for at least another two years.
The National consultation on these pitiful and derisory proposals is due to commence on 20th October through individual Branch ballots. The Branch committee calls for an emergency Regional Local Government Committee or Executive and agrees to submit a motion calling for the region to recommend rejection and publicise this recommendation to members and Branches.
This Branch agrees to use all Branch resources necessary to campaign amongst members to urge them to reject the proposals and to return to industrial action if necessary to secure a decent pay rise and to work with other Branches and Regions where possible to achieve a national rejection of the proposals.