Councils offer workers 1pc pay increase

Local authority employers said the offer to workers in Wales, England and Northern Ireland was the best they could make in the face of “significant” spending cuts.

Unions have been pressing for a “substantial” increase, with no strings attached, complaining that council workers were at “breaking point” over pay.

The one per cent offer, the first since 2009, when a three-year pay freeze kicked in, covers employees earning at least £12,145 a year, but does not include teachers, firefighters and council chief executives.

The offer would add more than £150m to the paybill.

Sian Timoney, who chairs the employers’ side, said: “It is fair to taxpayers and fair to our employees and recognises the financial pressures they are under.

“However, I am very disappointed that the unions have rejected our repeated attempts to discuss terms and conditions to ensure they are fair and appropriate for councils and their employees.”

Heather Wakefield, Unison’s head of local government, said: “Local government workers have seen a 16 per cent decline in the value of their pay in the last three years.

“Unison’s local government committee will be mindful of this when we consider this improved offer. We held out for a better deal and will now be consulting our local government members.”