Pay bargaining in councils will be at breaking point if nothing more is put on the table beyond the current ‘two-option’ offer. Retaining the goodwill of staff is critical to the very survival of local government Read more
The pay and working conditions of our predominantly female care workforce are already a national scandal. Cuts to council budgets can only make matters worse Read more
The Community Right to Bid could cost town halls an extra £5m. This completely contradicts ministers’ promises that any new local burdens will be funded by central government Read more
Attempts to remove facility time for union representatives are not just shortsighted. They may also reflect a hidden agenda to impose local and regional pay
Pay for ordinary council works now lags 10% behind 1990s levels. With local government pay talks due to commence tomorrow, employers need to sit up and take notice Read more
It is hard to understand why both central and local government have treated female council workers with such disdain. The chancellor should announce a rescue package in today’s Autumn Statement Read more
The campaign for the survival of Brent’s libraries faltered last week when it lost its High Court battle. But the public anger given voice by the Brent campaigners is being replicated across the world, and politicians need to start paying attention. Read more
The council tax freeze announced by George Osborne is being made at the expense of low-paid, local government workers’ pensions Read more
We should not be surprised at riots in inner-city areas like Lewisham. A whole workless generation has been abandoned by society Read more
An internal audit report has highlighted concerns over procurement processes at the London Borough of Barnet. This raises questions about the council’s general outsourcing proposals and also the government’s wider privatisation plans Read more
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