Wed 27 June
2012
Local
government workers across Scotland are taking part in a day of action today (Wednesday, June 27th) to mark Fair Pay
Day.
Thousands
of Scotland’s council workers will be calling on their local councils to
implement the living wage of £7.20 for all staff – a commitment made by both
Labour and the SNP prior to the election – and to put an end to the ongoing pay
freeze.
Union
members, from UNISON, GMB and Unite, will be marking Fair Pay Day by launching a
petition and urging politicians and members of the public to sign up to fair pay
for local government workers. There will also be a series of events taking place
throughout Scotland, including lunchtime demonstrations, lobbying of local
councillors and campaign stalls.
Stephanie Herd, Chair
of the Local Government Committee, said: “Local government
workers are among the lowest paid in the public sector, with more than 18,000
workers currently paid less than the living wage of
£7.20.
“Teaching
assistants, care workers, librarians, school catering staff, refuse collectors,
street cleaners – they are all struggling to make ends meet and can no longer
afford this continued pay cut.
“Employers
need to look at the damage they are inflicting on local government workers and
realise that the pay freeze must thaw.”
Dougie
Black, UNISON Regional Organiser, said: “The cost of gas, electricity, fuel and food has
risen sharply while local government workers’ pay has remained the same. This
means workers are worse off now than before – it’s not a pay freeze, it’s a pay
cut.
“The lowest paid are carrying the
heaviest burden as they have to spend a higher percentage of their income on
heating their homes and feeding their families. But it’s not just a matter of
fairness, it also makes economic sense as increased wages would boost local
economies.
“The major parties in Scotland made
a commitment to the Living Wage prior to the election and we are calling on
Scotland’s councils to honour their promise and insist on fairness and decency
for their workforce.”
ENDS
Notes
to editors
1. Fair Pay Day on June
27th– is part of the ongoing Fair Pay campaign by Scotland’s local
government trade unions – UNISON, GMB and Unite.
2. More than 18,000 local government
workers across Scotland are currently paid below the living wage of
£7.20.
3. Both Labour and the
SNP made commitments to a Living Wage of £7.20 prior to the election. These
parties are in control, or part of a coalition, in almost all of Scotland’s
councils.
4. For more information
on the Fair Pay Campaign visit http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2012/index.html
5. For more information
on the Living Wage visit: http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/e-briefing_ScottishLivingWage_June2012.pdf
.
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