Council and democracy

Agenda item

Motion received from Councillor Gerrish

Minutes:

The Motion, as printed in the Agenda was proposed by Councillor Gerrish and seconded by Councillor Fish. The Motion read as follows:

 

Thurrock Council supports the National Joint Council (NJC) pay claim for 2018, submitted by UNISON, GMB and Unite on behalf of the Council and school workers calls for the immediate end of public sector pay restraint. NJC pay cannot be allowed to fall further behind other parts of the public sector.

 

Thurrock Council therefore resolves to:

 

           Write immediately to the LGA asking it to make urgent representations to Government to fund the NJC claim and the pay spine review;

           Write to the Prime Minister and Chancellor supporting NJC pay claim and seeking the additional resources needed to fund a decent pay rise and pay spine review;

           Meet with local NJC union representatives to convey support for the pay claim and the pay spine review.

 

Councillor Gerrish presented the Motion and stated that most workers in Local Government and Schools had their pay determined by the National Joint Council for local government services who saw their pay freeze from 2010-2013 and only 1% pay increase annually since then. With inflation making the cost of living more expensive, pay had dropped by approximately 20%. Councillor Gerrish continued that it was not fair that Thurrock Council employees who delivered crucial services see their pay eroded year after year. Councillor Gerrish believed that hard work should be rewarded with fair pay and that Thurrock Council should set a good example of this. It was also noted that Thurrock Council could not meet the increases in pay asked for on their own and that Government should halt the cuts to Local Government and adequately fund employees pay. Councillor Gerrish was proud to support the Pay-Up Campaign and the work that had been done on the pay cap.

 

Councillor J Kent echoed Councillor Gerrish’s comments that recognised a need for pay restraints. This was not backed by a proper pay rise and consideration had to be given to those people that do those jobs and that it was about time they got a good pay rise and this was what they deserved.

 

Councillor Snell stated his support for the Motion and stated that it was about fairness and it was about time people got what they deserved.

 

Councillor Gledhill would not be supporting the Motion in this form but wanted to make it clear that it was about time pay restrictions on public serving staff are removed. The fact was that the Council was losing employees to the private sector due to more financial benefits. Councillor Gledhill stated that pay increases came from tax payers and that this Motion was asking for an unrealistic 5% increase. That an Annual Pay Policy report was presented at February 2017 Full Council identifying the 1% pay increase with no comments made by Members.

 

Councillor Coxshall stated that he would not be supporting the Motion as the budget required to be sound and in credit before it was looked at as to what could be done. Councillor Coxshall agreed that the restraint should be removed in areas of need and in the areas where people are leaving.

 

Councillor Cherry stated his support for the Motion but with some reluctance. Councillor Cherry agreed that it should be fair across the board and that it clearly was not. That the massive divorce bill paid to the European Union, money spent towards the HS2 and money spent on Foreign Aid could be put towards wages and good causes in the country.

 

Councillor Spillman would be supporting the Motion but stated that Labour had to take their share of the blame for some of the restraints set.

 

Councillor G Rice stated his support for the Motion and could understand the anger of those affected and that the Motion deserved the right and proper support.

 

Councillor Halden stated that it was not a matter about deserve verses not deserved as all Members agree that front line workers deserved a good wage. Councillor Halden stated that if wages were forced up, and money was not available in the public purse this would then force taxes up.

 

Councillor Fish stated that the Government were out of touch with public perception and would be fully supporting the Motion.

 

Councillor Gerrish thanked Members for their debate and it was time that Theresa May now listened.

 

The Mayor called a vote on the Motion.

 

Upon being put to the vote, 22 Members voted in favour of the Motion with 2 Members against and 13 Members abstaining whereupon the Mayor declared the Motion carried.

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