UNISON's submission
In addition to the overall points made in the joint submission on pay trends, equal pay and Single Status, UNISON also submitted key supporting evidence, based on in-house and commissioned research.
UNISON's detailed briefing papers comprise:
- 'Cold Comfort' and 'More Cold Comfort' by Dr Carole Thornley of Keele University, analysing local government pay trends
- 'Failing to Deliver - Implementing the Single Status Agreement', also by Dr Carole Thornley. This reports on the survey of branches and employers to ascertain the reasons for slow progress with Single Status. It highlights that cost and complexity of the process are key blocks to implementing pay and grading reviews. It concludes that "the major impediments to progress...are seen to be primarily on the employer side"
- 'All Credit to You - How Working and Pension Tax Credits affect local government workers', by the New Policy Institute, looks at the impact of Working and Pension Tax Credits on local government workers and the overall paybill. The report concludes that the WTC has effectively established a "real" minimum wage of £6.20 per hour for a couple with no dependant children and £5.20 for a single person with no dependants. It suggests that a minimum wage of £6.50 for our members would be appropriate in this context. It also suggests that Treasury "savings" on pay increases through reduced credits and tax revenue should be put back into local government. The overall Tax Credits bill for local government is £1.1 billion
- briefings based on research into the impact of privatisation on pay and conditions in Brighton, Tower Hamlets, Heart of England Care and Rotherham by Dr Peter Ambrose, Centre for Public Services, Jane Wills and IMPACT/Centre for Public Services
- research by CURDS, University of Newcastle entitled 'Our Members from the North', highlighting the importance of local government employment and pay to local economies
- UNISON surveys on recruitment and retention reporting the findings from surveys of Chief Executives, Best Value and Personnel Officers and branches. Both found that recruitment and retention problems are impacting badly on services as well as staff
- 'All Work and No Pay' - UNISON's survey of unpaid overtime - found 57% of UNISON members surveyed work unpaid overtime each week. The value of unpaid overtime equates to 15% of average annual salary
- 'Holiday Pay? No Way' looks at the problems faced by term-time workers, and shows that many earn less than the minimum wage once unpaid holidays are taken into account. Far from being a "family friendly" arrangement, it exploits already low paid women workers
- 'Working for Local Communities', also produced by the Local Government Section, takes an in-depth look at domiciliary care workers, social and residential care workers, school support and housing staff. They highlight the extent and impact of low pay and under-valuation of our members' jobs on their lives and services. The impact of recruitment and retention difficulties on services is also discussed.
You can download the entire submission (4.2MB) as a PDF below or download selected individual sections.
UNISON submission to NJC local government pay commission
Please note this complete 416-page document is a 4.2MB download. Individual sections of this document - smaller downloads - are also available in PDF format below.
Acrobat PDF version
Cold Comfort
Acrobat PDF version (2.8MB)
More Cold Comfort
Acrobat PDF version (400k)
Failing to deliver
Implementing the Single Status Agreement
Acrobat PDF version 868k)
All credit to you
How working and pension tax credits affect local government workers
Acrobat PDF version (424k)
More pain than gain
Recruitment and retention problems - a survey of senior officers
Acrobat PDF version (324k)
For love, not money
Recruitment and retention problems - a survey of UNISON branches
Acrobat PDF version (192k)
All work and no pay
A survey of unpaid overtime
Acrobat PDF version (200k)
Holiday pay? No way!
Term-time working in education
Acrobat PDF version (132k)
Working for local communities
A profile of UNISON members in home care, residential care, social work, schools and housing
Acrobat PDF version (612k)
Fair shares
The case for investment and equality in workforce development
Acrobat PDF version (216k)
The "opted-out" story
Acrobat PDF version (184k)
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