Pay rise bid for Walsall Council staff defeated

Labour members submitted a notice of motion to a full council meeting on Monday, calling on the authority to lobby Whitehall for money to pay for a 10 per cent hike in wages for staff and setting the minimum wage at £10 per hour.

They argued council workers had bore the brunt of austerity measures since 2010 and deserved the rise as reward for the work they did across the borough.

But the ruling Conservative administration branded the motion a “political stunt” and voted down the motion saying the authority could not afford the £32.7 million required to pay for it without significant cuts to services or introducing a 30 per cent rise in council tax.

A further recommendation in the motion, asking officers to encourage officers to join a trade union was also criticised.

Walsall Labour leader Councillor Aftab Nawaz said the administration had misread the motion asking the Government to fund the rise.

He said: “It has been a hard few years for our officers and many of them are struggling at the bottom end of the scale and to make ends meet so it is only right that we respect that with a pay rise.

“I don’t believe there is anyone in this chamber that would say our staff don’t do valuable work and it is important to recognise that.”

His Labour colleague Lee Jeavons added: “We are not asking the council to find the money.

Challenges

“We are asking this council to put pressure on the government to find the money in the same way they did for other public sector workers when they were put under political pressure. Aren’t our workers valuable?”

But Councillor Bal Chatta, portfolio holder for personnel and business support, said: “As a council we face significant financial challenges and that’s because the last Labour Government left the economy in a state.

“The last Labour administration in Walsall particularly struggled with financial management.

“For once, why don’t they provide viable financial solutions? Where would they find they £32.7 million shortfall their demands would create? Which services would they cut? Which jobs do they want to cut? Or do they want to raise council tax by 30 per cent?”

Walsall Council leader Mike Bird added: “This is a deluded notice of motion and not because we don’t value the work our staff do. But not only is it not costed, it is not possible.

“A political stunt like this when you are instructing our non-political officers to encourage people to join the trade union just to line your pockets, I’m sorry but it isn’t going to happen.”

After the meeting, Councillor Nawaz said: “It is disappointing to see the Conservatives making excuses about not being able to fund it when we said we wanted the Government to do so.

“It is clear they see a threat in people joining the trade unions because they support the rights of workers.”