Unions representing 40,000 local government craft workers have submitted their annual pay claim.

The unions UCATT, Unite, the GMB and the CSEU are seeking a 7.5% pay increase over the next 12 months.

In recent years the rates of skilled craft workers in local government have fallen far below the rates of skilled workers in the private sector. A fully skilled local government craft workers annual salary is just £13,972 whereas the private sector rate this year will rise to £20,888. A skilled local government carpenters rate is also substantially below that of a private sector labourer, whose pay will be £15,717 from July 2008.

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In a full and comprehensive pay claim the joint unions are also seeking a reduction in the working week, a substantial increase in extra payments and allowances, increased holiday entitlement and an enhancement in the bereavement leave.

In order to address the growing skills shortage of craft workers in the public sector the unions are also calling for a large increase in the number of apprentices being trained in local government.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: "Skilled local government craft workers dedicate their lives to serve their local communities. They deserve to be paid fairly. The poverty rates of pay they have been forced to live on must be ended."

(CD/JM)