Local government and school support staff workers from across Wales will lobby the National Assembly for Wales regarding the ongoing local government pay dispute and fair funding for councils.
UNISON Cymru/Wales, the biggest public sector trade union with over 50,000 local government members across Wales, is leading the demonstration and is calling on Assembly Members to join the UNISON campaign for fair pay, and to work together to achieve fair funding for Welsh services.
Dominic Macaskill, UNISON Cymru/Wales head of local government, said:
“The local government and schools workforce have been bearing the brunt of this economic recovery.
“Politicians from all persuasions argue that everyone should benefit from the recovery in order for it to be meaningful.
“On this basis, I am questioning why local government workers are being locked out of the recovery through severe and ongoing pay restraint, and why no political party is standing up and making the case for our public servants.
“Refuse collectors, social workers, carers, cleaners, teaching assistants, environmental health workers, caterers, town planners, administrators, school crossing patrol, caretakers, school cooks, nursery nurses, library staff and the many other local government workers deserve to be paid fairly in recognition of the vital work that they do.
“But instead, increasing numbers are struggling to make ends meet, are experiencing in-work poverty, and are forced into taking out payday loans and visiting food banks.
“In the meantime, local government budgets have been strangled and those very same workers who are already seeing their pay diminish are now being expected to pick up the slack.
“Where is the justice in that? Where is the recovery for local government workers and the services that they provide?
“We are calling on Assembly Members to join us and campaign for fairness for our workers, for our services, and for Wales.”
