UNISON, GMB and Unite, the three local government unions representing 1.4 million local authority employees, have submitted a pay claim for staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to receive a pay boost of at least £2,000 each.

The unions say that only a significant rise will help protect services and enable staff to weather the growing cost of living pressures.

The 2022 claim, which would apply from the start of ​April, would see council employees receive either a £2,000 rise at all pay grades or the current rate of RPI (presently 11.1%), whichever is higher for each individual.

The three unions say ​staff working in local government have seen an average of 27.5% wiped from the value of their pay since 2010.

UNISON head of local government Mike Short said:

“If the pandemic showed anything, it was that council workers provide invaluable services to keep communities safe. Time and again they went above and beyond to look after people in their area.

“But they can’t run ​services on thin air. Many ​staff are struggling to make ends meet and unless they’re paid properly, many will decide ​to quit for better paid work elsewhere.

“Employers and the government need to invest properly in the local government and school workforce to ensure the important services on which everyone relies are fit for the future.”

GMB national secretary Rehana Azam said:

“GMB members working across local government and schools need a pay rise that truly recognises and values their work.

Responding to the pay claim, Cllr Sian Timoney, Chair of the National Employers, said:

“We will be consulting with councils during June to seek their views which will inform the National Employers’ response to the unions.

“Local government continues to face significant financial challenges, which became more acute during the pandemic, having lost more than £15 billion in government funding since 2010.

“As well as rising inflation, cost of living, energy and fuel prices, the forecast increases to the National Living Wage also presents a significant cost to local government that will put further pressure on council budgets.”

“For too long, our local government members have faced real terms pay cuts. This year, without a significant increase in pay, workers will leave their jobs for higher paid jobs in other sectors.

“We have school members that are regularly working at levels above what they are being paid for and struggling to put food on the table at home. We have carers delivering care in the community that are facing increasing expenses for having to use their car for work.”

Unite acting national officer for local government Graham McNab said:

“Our local government members have been the bedrock that allowed public services to function smoothly during the pandemic against a background of more than a decade of cuts to local council budgets.

“Many of our members are on poverty wages and deserve a large inflation-busting pay rise as they have endured a savage reduction in pay in real terms. They will have Unite’s support in any action they wish to take to achieve pay justice.”