Fair Pay Now! Protest Day at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Photograph of Sam Adams (LGBT Officer), Claire Wormald (Branch Secretary) and June Dillow (Women's and Equalities Officer) on ‘Pay Up Now!’ protest at the Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. — Sam Adams (LGBT Officer), Claire Wormald (Branch Secretary) and June Dillow (Women’s and Equalities Officer) on Pay Up Now! Protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Southend Borough Council UNISON activists supported a ‘Pay Up For Council and School Workers Now!’ Protest by asking people to sign Christmas cards to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises.

Image of supportive messages in Christmas card to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises. — Example of supportive messages in Christmas cards to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises.

We are calling on our councillors to support our UNISON members by backing a motion on fair pay at the next full Council meeting on the 14th December. This motion calls for action from our councillors including ‘lobbying’ the Government to release funds to enable a long overdue pay rise of 5% or more.

Council workers, school workers and the public sent a clear message to the councillors calling for them to stand up for a fair pay rise.

Image of handwritten message to local councillors and the Government which reads ‘Don’t leave us singing for our supper at Christmastime. Make 2018 a Happy New Year for Everyone!’ — ‘Don’t leave us singing for our supper at Christmastime. Make 2018 a Happy New Year for Everyone!’ is a real message both our councillors and the Government needs to hear.

Since 2010 the cost of living has risen by 22.6% whilst our pay has only risen by 4.45% which equates, for example, to a £4,000 pay cut on a £20,000 wage. This means some of us are now seeking benefit support or support from food banks – singing for our supper is a reality for an increasing number of our members.

Since June 2010, local government has lost over 750,000 jobs nationally, locally we have lost near a quarter of our workforce as we see local government funding being slashed by 40%. Our members left behind face increased workloads, pressure and stress – on top of shrinking pay packets. As a result, local services and those reliant upon them suffer. This is not fair to workers or the public in Southend.

In the future, the rate of inflation is predicted to remain above 3% for the next 5 years – this means the cost of living will rise by 18% by 2021 – another pay offer below the rate of inflation would effectively be another pay cut – this is not fair.

The messages and signatures collected today showed what support there is from the public who understand that people who work in our schools and councils provide the vital local services that hold our communities together. We must keep the pressure on and say NO to any SCROOGE-like pay offers which will plunge our members into more misery.

Defend our pay and services by being ready to stand together in Southend and united across the country with other school and council workers in UNISON, GMB and UNITE to fight for a 5% or above fair pay deal.

What you can do to help now: Make sure our councillors back a fair pay deal and join the lobby on the 14th December on the steps of Southend Borough Council, Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue at 5.30pm.

Fair Pay Now! Protest Day in pictures.

Photograph of Pay Up Now! supporter signing Christmas card to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Pay Up Now! supporter signing Christmas card to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Photograph of Pay Up Now! Protest at the Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.

Discussion at the Pay Up Now! Protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Pay Up Now! supporter signing Christmas card to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Photograph of Pay Up Now! Christmas cards to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Pay Up Now! Christmas cards to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Pay Up Now! supporter signing Christmas card to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Photograph of Pay Up Now! supporters signing Christmas card to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Pay Up Now! supporters signing Christmas card to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Pay Up Now! supporter signing Christmas card to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Discussion at the Pay Up Now! Protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Pay Up Now! supporter signing Christmas card to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Discussion at the Pay Up Now! Protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Pay Up Now! supporter signing Christmas card to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Discussion at the Pay Up Now! Protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Pay Up Now! supporter signing Christmas card to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Discussion at the Pay Up Now! Protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Pay Up Now! supporter signing Christmas card to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Discussion at the Pay Up Now! Protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

Pay Up Now! supporter signing Christmas card to local councillors demanding an end to Scrooge-like pay rises at a protest at the Civic Centre, Southend Borough Council.

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