Councillors walk out of meeting to back staff

12:10pm Friday 18th July 2008

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Councillors walked out in support of council workers last night.

Brighton and Hove City Council workers had gathered outside Brighton Town Hall to lobby councillors as they attended a full council meeting.

Unison members, who were on their second day of strike over pay, were joined by Labour and Green party councillors who support their request for a pay rise of 6% rather than the 2.45% offered.

Many of those who had taken part in the walkout held placards as officers from the Unison branch in Brighton gave speeches.

Jessica Taylor, a care manager at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, said: “For ten years this Government has been giving us below inflation pay rises. I think it is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the public and us.”

As other councillors arrived at the town hall for the meeting, they were handed leaflets outlining why Unison members were striking.

During the meeting Green and Labour councillors put forward motions to the council to call on the Government and the local authority to reopen the negotiations on pay with the unions, and to make an improved offer.

Councillors agreed on Labour’s motion then members of the Green party, Labour and the Liberal Democrats left the meeting. Green councillor Keith Taylor said: “This meeting should have been postponed out of common respect and solidarity with our staff.

“It was possible and the leaders of the parties and chief executive were well aware of that.”

Labour’s Gill Mitchell said: “Brighton and Hove is an expensive place to live and our staff do a tremendous job and we want to support them to the full.”