The company I have worked for for the last 4 years is an up and coming IT services provider, we've recently bought out a smaller service provider and taken on some huge maintenance contracts with big names.

We never ever get annual pay rises.

I got my pay rises through moving department and studying and gaining qualifications. In order for anyone to get a pay rise, they need to submit a request, then they are looked at, how long they've worked there, their sickness, reputation at work are taken into consideration.

I know a few people tried to rally up and get a union to try to get us annual pay rises. Those people got sacked, paid to shut up and ever since then, no-one has dared ask the question.

Right now, I'd rather just keep quiet!

Good on them, the are being treated like fools. 

In todays climate they could fire them all and replace them with people who want the jobs. Its been done before.

I work for the NHS and also lost money with the "equal pay" amendments a couple of years ago. I get a pay rise every year of about £300 which is guaranteed but I am on a lower salary than if I did the same job in the private sector HOWEVER I get other perks such a job security (brilliant in the current climate), excellent pension (at the moment), flexible working, brilliant maternity package and the general security that comes with working for the government. If i went to work for our local council I would earn quite a bit more money but not sure of the perks... and I probably couldn't do the hours I do now...??

My dp works in the private sector and has a decent salary and flexible working but has no guaranteed pay rise which I found shocking because I thought everyone had one. xx

well, i work for the council and did vote against the previous strike on pay increases. however, the council i work for has just announced the results of a job evaluation in the name of equal pay and i personally have lost £1800 from my wage. Other colleagues have lost more.

so tbh i would now be grateful for the paltry 2.5% pay rise we have been offered.

Of course council working isn't a job rofl. But it is those that work fo rhte council (ie council worker) that are striking becuase they are not gettign a big enough pay rise (in their opinion)

Why do people think they automatically deserve to get a pay rise every year. Especially now that the councils have just announced that they had millions invevsted in the icelanic banks that went under.

They ar elucky to have jobs at the mo....

LOL 'council worker' isn't an actual job you know - it includes lots of different staff on different pay.

Good on em I say - why should people accept below inflation pay rises year after year.

I would be quite happy with their pay tbh!!! i dont see why theyt alkways have to be complaining about their pay

I haven't had a rate increase in 3 years. Why so council workers feel they are entitled to it? It is not the law you know to give out payrises.

Dh is a council worker and i thought they had agreed the 3% rise. I really should listen to dh more. I usually switch off when he talks about work.

I agree with these guys, and good on um!

They are expected to take a pay cut, and put up with it?

The pay offer is way below inflation!

Good luck to them.

Council workers are already bloody well paid IMO.

no early end in sight for council strikes as union calls on members to reject deal

oct 8 2008

hopes of an early settlement to the council workers' pay row faded today when a union urged rejection of the latest pay offer.

gmb scotland said the offer did not go far enough for its 26,000 members and is to recommend they reject it.

walkouts were to have taken place this week in the latest phase of the pay battle but were suspended after a new pay offer.

previously scotland's local authority employers had offered 2.5% for this year with no figure set for subsequent years.

the walkouts were suspended after the offer was revised to 3% this year and 2.5% next year.

but the gmb, one of several unions involved in the pay wrangle, today said this was still not enough.

the union, which is balloting its members over the next four to five weeks, said 3% was too low and it wanted a single-year deal.

senior gmb official alex mcluckie said: "gmb shop stewards, representing 26,000 gmb members, considered this offer yesterday.

"they felt it did not go far enough and does not resolve the dispute for them. gmb representatives did not like the reintroduction of a second year and still want to see a single-year deal.

"they also believe that given the high levels of inflation that the 3% would need to increase to reflect the significant increase they are seeing in the cost of living."

given the current situation of this country, are these people asking a bit too much of council authorites, or are they justified?