Pay deal means more jobs cuts

Author: The Times   |  

Local government staff were warned of more job cuts last night, after council chiefs were told to pay £94 million to help to end a long pay dispute.

Acas, the conciliation service, said the offer of 2.45 per cent for 2008-09 should be increased to 2.75 per cent for 1.4 million staff, including refuse collectors, dinner ladies, librarians and teaching assistants. An extra £100 has already been agreed for the lowest paid.

Margaret Eaton, the Local Government Association chairman, said: “We are not prepared to pass this on to council taxpayers so it will be jobs that have to go.” Brian Baldwin, chairman of the employers’ negotiators, said the Acas decision would have to be thought through carefully. A Times survey last week showed that two in three councils were planning job losses, and tens of thousands of posts are expected to go this year.

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