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Sept 2021

Politics

Unison in Harrogate ballots council staff over 'derisory' pay offer

Published: 3 Sep 2021, 13:40 BST

by John Plummer

The union claims a 1.75% pay offer to council and school staff is effectively a pay cut when inflation is taken into account and is a 'shocking way to treat staff who went above and beyond during the pandemic'.

The Harrogate Borough Council branch of Unison is holding a consultative ballot with members in local government over whether to accept a "derisory" pay offer.

The trade union is recommending members reject the offer, which could lead to another ballot on whether to take industrial action.

Unison is balloting members at Harrogate Borough Council, its new council-owned leisure company Brimhams Active and Ripon City Council.

School staff will be balloted separately by the North Yorkshire Local Government branch of Unison.

Dave Houlgate, Unison's Harrogate branch secretary, said:

“Council and school workers have been offered a 1.75% pay rise with those on the very lowest pay point being offered 2.75%.

“This is yet another derisory offer which will only compound the local government recruitment and retention crisis and increase the demand for in-work benefit support.

"The fact is that with inflation at 3.8% this is another real-terms pay cut and comes on the back of local government pay having fallen by a quarter since 2010.

"This is a shocking way to treat staff who went above and beyond during the pandemic, kept communities safe, supported businesses, cared for the most vulnerable and ensured schools remained open throughout successive lockdowns."

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Mr Houlgate added women make up the majority of local government employees, and were among the lowest paid in the country. He added:

"It’s time they and the services they provide were properly recognised. Pats on the back and the occasional well done don’t pay bills or feed families.”

“No one wants to take industrial action but sometimes it does become necessary and that may be the case this time.”

The consultation ballot ends on 24th September.

Harrogate Borough Council has been approached for comment.

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Unison in Harrogate ballots council staff over 'derisory' pay offer

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