Council staff demand 6% pay rise

Unite, the GMB and TGWU-Unison say this would bring minimum pay to £6.50 an hour - still 25p below what they say is a living wage of £6.75 an hour.

The claim covers all work grades in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The unions want a rise of 6% or 50p an hour, whichever is higher. But ministers say public sector pay rises must be below 2% to curb inflation.

'Modest claim'

The unions argue that a 6% rise is needed to help council workers "catch up" with the rest of the public sector, following below-inflation awards since 2004.

Unison national officer Heather Wakefield said: "Despite the headline figure, this is a modest claim. No one could argue that an increase of 50p an hour fuels inflation.

"Over the past three years local government workers' pay has increased by less than the rate of inflation, so we are starting from a low base."

She added: "The government's 2% limit is just not on. It is half the rate of inflation and represents a real pay cut for loyal, hard-working public sector workers, two-thirds of whom are women."

The government's decision to award in two stages the 2.5% pay rise recommended for public sector workers means they are effectively getting 1.9%.

That has prompted anger from public sector workers including police officers, prison guards, nurses and civil servants.

The dispute comes as the Senior Salaries Pay Board is expected on Wednesday to recommend a 2.8% rise for MPs, on the current £60,675 a year.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged MPs - who vote for their own pay settlements - to opt instead for 1.9%, in line with the public sector.