world economy weakened by the pandemic : higher than expected inflation worldwide – especially in the USA and major European economies – triggering tighter financial conditions ; a worse than anticipated slowdown in China ; and further negative effects from the war in Ukraine .
Globally , its baseline forecast is for growth to slow from 6.1 % last year to 3.2 % in 2022 , while its projection for global inflation has been revised upwards , largely due to food and energy prices , and is anticipated to reach 6.6 % in advanced economies and 9.5 % in emerging market and developing economies .
Unions issue joint responses on pay
GMB , UNISON and Unite , who represent council and school staff in England , Wales and Northern Ireland , have joined to issue a first response to the £ 1,925 flat rate pay offer from the local government employers , on which they are consulting their members .
GMB national secretary Rehana Azam said : “ Whilst real terms pay cuts risk exacerbating the staffing crisis , we recognise this is an offer that warrants further scrutiny so we can assess its impact on our members . GMB will now meet with reps and members to discuss the next steps .”
UNISON head of education and local government Mike Short added : “ Council and school workers are enduring a major cost of living crisis . This offer is better than employees might have expected , given the low pay rises of recent years .
“ It shows local government employers are beginning to understand the financial nightmare school and council staff are living through . But it ’ s not enough to make up for a decade and more of lost wages .”
And Unite acting national officer Clare Keogh added : “ Council workers have already suffered over a decade of below-inflation wage rises and this is another pay cut dressed up as a pay increase .”
The unions point out that in June they submitted a joint claim calling for a pay boost of at least £ 2,000 for all council and school staff .
Meanwhile , five education unions have jointly expressed “ grave concerns ” over the potential damage to the country ’ s education system of the government ’ s “ botched teacher pay award for 2022 / 23 ”.
The ASCL , Community , NAHT , NASUWT and NEU said that the pay award represents a significant real-terms cut to the salaries of most teachers and all school leaders , and will put at further risk the supply line of staff on which schools depend .
f Unite has confirmed that its local government membership in 26 councils in Scotland have rejected a “ derisory ” 2 % pay offer and voted for industrial action .
Wendy Dunsmore , Unite industrial officer , commented : “ Let ’ s be clear here : a 2 % pay offer when the broader cost of living is at 11.8 % is a punishing real terms pay cut . In the coming weeks we will now plan for targeted strike action in 26 councils across Scotland and the blame for this lies squarely with [ local government employers ’ organisation ] COSLA and the first minister .”
Above-inflation win for airport drivers
Bus drivers employed by ABM at Gatwick Airport have achieved an inflation-beating 21.5 % increase , Unite reports .
The drivers ’ pay has increased from £ 12.34 an hour to £ 14.25 , with the deal backdated to 1 April this year . Pay will further increase to £ 15 an hour from 1 January 2023 , the union says . In addition overtime rates will now be paid at time and a quarter .
The new deal is one of several wins for workers this week . UNISON reports newly qualified paramedics in the East of England achieving an increase in their pay after fighting together for better banding .
The union supported staff to put a collective grievance in over the newly qualified paramedic ( NQP ) role . When the role was introduced in 2016 , it was agreed that NQPs would be on band five for a two-year “ consolidation of learning ” period to display the knowledge in order to go up to band six .
FACT SERVICE • Volume 84 , Issue 30 , 28 July 2022 3