Senior officers have regularly seen their pay packets swell in the last 6 years whilst our members have faced below inflation pay awards and job insecurity says GMB
GMB, the union for local government workers, has commented on proposals from Manchester City Council that would see senior managers receive increases of up to 20%. The council has seen swingeing cuts amounting to £300m a year while other council staff were given a pay rise of just 1% earlier in the year.
Simon Walsh, GMB regional organiser, said "To say we are disappointed that senior officers have moved to bump strategic management team pay is an understatement. Senior officers have regularly seen their pay packets swell in the last 6 years whilst our members have faced below inflation pay awards and job insecurity while their jobs are outsourced."
"Manchester City Council has faced the most savage cuts since 2010 and our members have had to bear the brunt of decisions taken by national and local Government. We are currently bracing ourselves for further cuts following the council’s current consultation with staff and residents which are to be finalised by November."
"With an ever decreasing workforce and ever increasing pressure, our members are struggling to cope across all services. We find it inexplicable that Manchester City Council can find this level of funds to address senior officers pay. There is no way the council can justify some of these payments, especially when paying some officers over £100,000 plus thousands of pounds in market rate supplements."
GMB is seeking further clarification on the proposals and have submitted comment directly to the Personnel Committee.
Councillor John Flanagan said the rises affected eight posts and would be funded "from within existing budgets". Councillor Flanagan, executive member for finance (pictured), said: "It is essential that we can keep and attract the right calibre of senior staff by having salaries which reflect the levels of responsibility they have and are in line with those available in comparable cities."
"We are currently reviewing all staff salaries, from top to bottom, to ensure they fairly reflect their workloads and responsibility, while maintaining value for money for council taxpayers."
Bradford councillor Kamran Hussain has been shortlisted for Community Champion at the 2025 LGIU & CCLA Cllr Awards — highlighting his significant impact across the district.
Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns for its milestone 20th year, unveiling new festive features, dazzling decorations and the North’s largest outdoor ice rink.
From 27 October, new housing safety rules known as Awaab’s Law come into force — compelling social landlords to fix emergency hazards within 24 hours and protect millions of tenants from dangerous conditions like black mould.
Bradford Council is expanding its successful Housing First programme — inspired by New York and proven in Finland — to offer ten more places, helping more people with complex needs move from homelessness into stable, supported housing.
A major new exhibition, The Last Princesses of Punjab, will open at Kensington Palace on 26 March 2026 to celebrate the 150th birthday of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh — the trailblazing Punjabi royal and suffragette — exploring the lives of the remarkable women who shaped her story.
A celebration of creativity and belonging, The Leap’s SENDIVERSE Festival brought together over 1,700 people across Bradford for a series of inclusive arts and cultural events designed with and for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Bradford Royal Infirmary has renamed the Listening for Life Centre after pioneering ear surgeon Professor Chris Raine MBE, who has restored hearing for hundreds across the North of England.
Get over the Weekday blues - Every Tuesday night is party night with the best Bhangra and Urban Asian Beats. The Bhangra Show every Tuesday between 8pm-11pm
Remix Saturdays
Every Saturday evening we turn to remixes of hit songs to get you in the Saturday night party mood! Every Saturday between 5pm - 8pm
Alim OnAir
Have you a question about the religious, cultural or tradition aspect of Islam? Then join Hazrat Maulana Fazal Dad in the weekly show every Friday between 8-9pm.
The Golden Era
The golden era of Bollywood celebrated in this weekly show full of classics taking you back in time. Every Sunday between 5pm - 7pm