Greenwich Council is proposing to freeze the pay of its workers for the next four years.
A statutory consultation with workers must be undertaken before the freeze can be implemented but the council says that he measure would save £2.4 million – the equivalent of “77 front line jobs”.
The council is having to find savings after being warned to expect a 40% cut to its grant from central government.
Councillor Peter Brooks, Deputy Leader of the Council, commented:
“This is a consultation – not a firm decision. We are bracing ourselves for the Coalition Government’s spending review on October 20th and must allow ourselves the flexibility to be able to make savings where we can. We have always indicated that front line services must come first. We have been told to prepare for a 40% reduction in funds and have no choice but to plan for what might lie ahead.
Apparently, the Council has threatened “mass sackings” if the unions don’t agree to the cuts/freezes. The proposed freeze would hit young employees especially hard, as it would mean that someone currently on the bottom of a grade who could normally have expected to be at the top of the grade in four years time will, instead, still be at the bottom grade in four years time.
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/642/10413/14-10-2010/greenwich-council-threatens-mass-sackings
“Labour controlled Greenwich council in south London has sent letters to 8,000 staff threatening mass sackings unless unions agree to pay cuts. The council is threatening to freeze pay increments for four years. Employees start at the bottom of the grade and work their way up the scale over four years. … Greenwich Save Our Services is leading the fight against the cuts in the borough, linking together trade unionists and community campaigners. A mass lobby of the council has been organised for 27 October. “