Portsmouth council to lobby for £500 'coronavirus bonuses' for key workers
PORTSMOUTH City Council will fight for £500 ‘coronavirus bonuses’ and look to increase pay for all its staff following their ‘remarkable work’ amid the pandemic.
During a full Portsmouth City Council meeting yesterday (July 21) members agreed to lobby the Local Government Association to push Westminster for the one-off payments after plans for them fell through.
They will also look to pay the real living wage of £9.30 an hour, which is currently only paid to staff directly working for the council, to agency and contract staff.
Speaking during the virtual meeting, Labour Councillor Cal Corkery, said: ‘Since the very start of the pandemic staff working in council services have played a vital role.
‘The efforts of those working have been remarkable and must be recognised with meaningful action. We all went out and clapped for the key workers every Thursday but claps and awards don't put food on the table.’
Lib Dem Cllr Ben Dowling explained the council's employment committee was expecting a report on the viability of paying the living wage to contracted staff.
He said: ‘It has always been a clear aim of the council to do this in regards to the living wage. It might take time to get there. Hopefully this will help speed that up.’
SEE ALSO: Heated row over Southsea road closures
Union representatives for the city agreed with the motion.
Chairman of the city's Unison branch, Jon Woods, said: ‘Portsmouth City Council must show it values its staff. While claps are welcome they do not pay rent.’
Richard White, from Unison, added: ‘Over the last 10 years real average wage for council workers have fallen 22 per cent.
‘Our council workers are worth so much more.’
However, Tory Cllr Luke Stubbs had concerns about how the demands would be met. He said: ‘The motion is quite extreme and the living wage claim is wholly unrealistic. To say the public sector workers are going to receive a huge pay rise, well who's going to pay for it.
‘The cost of this wage increase would be about £200 to £250 per Band D tax payer. As always there's the option to take it to a referendum and ask the public if they would pay for it, which I think would be an interesting experiment.’
20 councillors voted in favour of the motion, with 14 against and one abstained.