GMB Slams Manchester Council For Proposed Above Inflation Pay Rises For Managers

Thursday, 4 August 2016 15:00

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."

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