Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The Secretary of Wiltshire Unison has written to councillors.

It relates to 'The concerns our members have raised with us following the recent decision by Wiltshire Council to dramatically increase senior managers' pay.'

Sue Anderson points out that whilst the bosses are getting an increase of between £16,000 and £19,600, many frontline staff work for less than the living wage and are suffering pay freezes or minimal increases.

In real terms local government workers have seen their pay devalued by between 10-15% over the last few years.

She goes on to say: 'What impact is this decision having on our members?

•UNISON members are appalled at the scale of the discrepancy between the pay increases we have received and those being applied to these senior management posts.

•Most of us have been left feeling frustrated, overworked and concerned about future workloads (especially in view of the recent departures of those leaving the authority through the Voluntary Redundancy process).

•Morale has dipped significantly over the last few weeks.

•At a time when services are under threat we are struggling to understand how these pay rises can be justified.

•The unfairness of this 'realignment' feels like the last straw to many.

•Many members feel that their efforts and hard work are not being recognised.

•Many feel that councillors are failing to recognise that it is not only very senior managers who have been undervalued for years.'

Unison is asking councillors to support the workforce in their campaigns for fair pay with the implementation of a minimum living wage for emloyees and the removal of zero-hours contracts. They are also concerned that staff may be hit by car parking charges which would in practice be equivalent to a pay cut.