Proposed by Councillor Price

Labour member motion

Oxford City Council wishes to record its sincere thanks to its staff and to the two recognised unions (UNISON and Unite)  for the maintenance of a strong record of cooperation and mutual respect, reflected in particular in the conclusion of a further local pay agreement this year, and constructive negotiations relating to the establishment of the Local Authority Trading Company.

It notes however that:

·         For most workers in local government and schools, pay and other terms and conditions are determined by the National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services

·         On average, across the country, NJC basic pay has fallen by 21% in real terms since 2010

·         NJC workers had a three-year pay freeze from 2010-2012 and have received only  a 1% pay increase annually since then

·         NJC pay is the lowest in the public sector

·         The likelihood of rising inflation following the vote to leave the European Union will worsen the current public sector pay inequality.

This council therefore supports the NJC pay claim for 2018, submitted by Unite, UNISON and the GMB on behalf of council and school workers and calls for the ending of public sector pay restraint.

Council also notes the continuing real decline in local government funding in the face of increased levels of demand in many services and calls on the Government to provide the additional resources that will allow local authorities to fund a decent pay rise for NJC employees as well as the maintenance of the levels of service that citizens have a right to expect in an affluent society.

Council resolves to ask the Leader of Council to:

1.    to express Council’s support to the LGA for representations to be made to Government to fund the NJC claim and a pay spine review; and to

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

This motion was not taken because the time for discussing motions had elapsed.