GMB North West & Irish Region
10 September 2013

Warrington Borough Council has gone ahead with controversial pay rises of up to 13.3 per cent for senior managers - despite an angry backlash from council workers and an outcry from local voters.

GMB members demonstrated outside the Town Hall last night (Monday) alongside colleagues from other unions before the monthly council meeting voted through increases of between 4.4% and 13.3% which amounts to an increase of over £10,000 in some cases.  Workers carried banners urging councillors to vote "No" to the pay rises that are being awarded following a restructure for senior managers.

These increases compare with a one per cent national pay award for other council works that the government put in place via a cap on pay increases.

The council's executive member for personnel, Cllr Hitesh Patel defended the increase saying:  “The council had to cut spending and had reduced the number of senior management posts. This meant some senior managers had bigger responsibilities than previously”.

The unions ridiculed the council's claim that managers were having to take on additional responsibilities and that the authority would lose good officers if they did not pay more.  In a joint statement, trade unions representing Warrington Council employees said: “It seems that senior management are exempt from any pay cap and can be accommodated by an external review that puts into place a pay and grading structure that has not been consulted on.”

For members needing more information, please contact

Bob Pinnock

GMB Branch Secretary

01925 630095

bpinnock@warrington.gov.uk