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THOUSANDS of workers at council-owned firms are part of a two-tier system as they receive lower pay and less favourable pensions compared to town hall staff, Unison warned yesterday.
Research by the union found that 62 per cent of councils own at least one local authority trading company, which provide services such as waste management, social care and investment projects like commercial property rentals.
Councils have established more than 850 of these firms, which employ about one in 20 of those in the local government workforce.
The election offers a critical chance to shape the future of pay, care and community provision in Wales, says Unison’s JESS TURNER
After years of austerity and denial under a new Reform UK council, a failing Send service was pushed into the spotlight by staff, unions and parents — culminating in a £1.3m funding boost and a 50% increase in front-line workers. MARTIN PORTER explains
Roger McKenzie talks to general secretary of Unison CHRISTINA McANEA about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on members, the local government funding emergency and the threat of Reform UK
