Council warned 'hands off pay'
A TRADE union chief in Carmarthenshire has vowed to "fight tooth and nail" to prevent any freeze in council workers' pay.
The move comes in the wake of an announcement that county council chief executive Mark James would not receive a pay rise over the next two years in his £150,000-plus wages, and other senior bosses would also have their salaries frozen.
Plaid group leader Peter Hughes-Griffiths has said he wants to extend the cost-cutting measure to all the authority's workers.
"I welcome the decision, but the freeze needs to be trickled down to all council workers,'' he said.
"It is a positive step but needs to be across the board.''
However, Jeff Baker, of Unison, has issued a hands off warning to County Hall chiefs.
The union's regional organiser for Carmarthenshire said: "Effectively a pay freeze is a cut in pay to our members. We will fight tooth and nail to ensure this doesn't become council policy."
Referring to Councillor Griffiths's comments, Mr Baker said: "He is responding to the chief officers agreeing to a pay freeze, and goes on to say he expects all workers to follow suit.
"Our members wouldn't find it acceptable to pay for the economic crisis, which is not of their own making. It is a private sector crisis and already there's been substantial public money used to bolster the banks while their chief executives still get their large bonuses.
"Mr Griffiths must realise that many of our members are already on low pay and have fought hard during our national pay negotiations to try to maintain a decent standard of living. We are not prepared to forego what had taken years of struggle.''
Mr Baker added he had requested a meeting with the council to discuss the matter.
"We have written to the chief executive requesting a formal meeting on how we can deal with the economic situation and safeguard our jobs,'' he said.
"We are willing to negotiate positively.''
The union leader also criticised the politicians for fudging the issue of future public expenditure.
"It's early days, but what we are interested in is all the political parties have spoken about having to make savings, but all of them have said they will defend frontline services,'' he said.
"They are all too frightened to say it will affect frontline services.''
7 Comments
by council workers wife, wales
Tuesday, November 17 2009, 6:50PM
“my husband works for Carmarthen Council and has just received his pay rise for this year - approx £7 per month more - hardly a lottery win! But yes we're both just greatful he has a job. Well for the time being anyway - there are big job cuts planned. Get rid of Mark James - retain 10 lower paid council workers!”
by Teifion, LLandovery
Tuesday, November 17 2009, 3:39PM
“I've only ever slated the £100k+ council pigs at the trough.
I would even suggest for us as people living in Carmarthenshire that the people on the least money - the cleaners, the home help, the clerck helping you to get some service are the most valuable
Would anyone miss any of these greedy, selfish people?
Doubt it very much as most of what they do are only following central Gov. "guidelines"
SUCH RESPONSIBILITY!”
by Barrie, Llandovery
Tuesday, November 17 2009, 11:31AM
“Remember the good old days when we had public servants not overpaid chief executives who seem to be a law unto themselves.
The usuall excuse about being in line with with private companies sounds a bit lame ,
Only by having talks with the unions can this problem over pay can be resolved but both sides need to be aware that there is only so much money to go around.
Perhaps a cut in expesses would help.”
by Richard, Swansea
Tuesday, November 17 2009, 10:56AM
“The pay-freeze should indeed be across the board, as it usually is for the low-paid in the private sector too. Why should I have a pay-freeze yet be expected to subsidise council workers' pay-rises?
That said though, I don't see how a council leader can justify earning £150k+. If the people at the top earned a more reasonable salary, there would be more money in the pot for the people at the bottom. I'm all for the free market, but there seems to be something wrong when the council leader can earn 10-15 times as much as those on the bottom of the pay-scale.”
by Medusa, Swansea
Tuesday, November 17 2009, 10:47AM
“They are moaning about a pay-freeze; bless! Aren't these people content to be in employment? Greed again. Rather than demand more money maybe they should "cut the cloth" and, (for now) learn to live on what they've got - it might also be a good lesson for their children; to learn that you can't always have what you want when you want it!
I've no sympathy for such greedy, selfish people.
Give their jobs to people who know what it's like to "have it hard". No doubt there are plenty out there who would gladly take their seats, and would not moan.”
by Dickiebo, Swansea.
Tuesday, November 17 2009, 10:46AM
“A lot of truth there, Teifion.”
by Teifion, LLandovery
Tuesday, November 17 2009, 10:14AM
“"Matey" earns £150k pa for what reason?
Comparison with the free market is the usual excuse.
But where is the competition witha council / are they at risk of losing their jobs if they mess up or will Tesco set up in competition?
NO - their revenue is guaranteed, they forget about public duty - would a charity director witha bigger budget DARE earn half of what these people give themselves.
Responsibility on their shoulders maybe?
Surely thats one of their biggest assets - never making a decision as it may come back to haunt them!”