Low-earners ‘cheated out of £250’

Union leaders yesterday accused the Government of “fooling” hundreds of thousands of low-paid council workers out of a promised £250 pay rise.

By The Newsroom

Published 2nd Apr 2012, 07:00 BST

Unison said carers, school dinner ladies, cleaners and teaching assistants in Wales, England and Northern Ireland would not be receiving the money in the new financial year. The union pointed out that Chancellor George Osborne promised more than a year ago that public sector workers earning less than £21,000 would receive a £250 pay rise.

But local government workers have not received the money, Unison complained.

National officer Heather Wakefield said: “It is a disgrace that George Osborne has tried to fool local government workers and the public into believing he cared enough about the hardship of low pay to announce he would cushion the impact of the Government pay freeze.”

Council workers have suffered a 15 per cent pay reduction in three years and now earn a “shocking” 10 per cent less in real terms than in 1996, according to Unison.