Council pay awards

WHAT have been described as “immoral” pay rises have been approved for senior managers and directors at Warrington Borough Council ranging from between 4-13 per cent, while the rest of the town hall employees have had to make do with a one per cent rise.
The pay awards have been condemned by unions as “immoral” and in the “real world” where many people have had to take pay cuts to get through these times of austerity – a pay award of any kind seems a distant dream.
While not siding with the unions, or any political party – the fact we are told the awards have been recommended by an independent panel doesn’t mean they are right.
I realise restructuring at the town hall has resulted in additional responsibilities for some officers – but I think it is fair to say that no one in a senior role at Warrington Borough Council, or any other public sector role is living on the breadline.
I know for a fact that many small and medium sized private business owners have not been able to give themselves pay rises for many years as well as having to ask their employees to take pay cuts or work four day weeks.
May be those who are elected to serve in public office should make the decisions rather than taking independent advice – or may be even listen to the people who elected them in the first place.
How anyone in any position of public office can justify a pay award of upwards of 13 per cent in the current climate is beyond me!