The below inflation increase for council workers has been a fact of life for a number of years now. This year RPI 4.6% + pay rise of 2.45% = pay cut, again. If the Government believes benefits and pensions need to be increase by RPI, then why not low paid council workers. Non public sector worker

Mark, Surrey,

Apart from the hot air I wonder if anyone will notice this?

Alastair Harris, DERBY,

FACT - Industrial Relations Services (IRS) said that median pay settlements in the "private" sector rose to 3.7 per cent in the last three months of last year (2007). This MYTH of low private sector pay rises is persistent and false.

JK, Portsmouth, UK

Just sack them and save us all alot of money.

John, Lincoln,

If all these moaning social workers, environmental health officers, planning officers and other underworked, unecessary, government-funded, busy-bodies didn't bother coming into work again tomorrow, would anyone actually notice?

I think not.

Mark, Birmingham, UK

If anyone can run a home on £926 a month and thats my only income paying full council tax ( yes i pay it too) gas elec water,food mortgage insurances ,and not forgetting , getting to work. can i come and live with you?

brenda, swansea, wales

Not all public sector workers are fat cat. When was the last time a dinner supervisor at your childs primary school got a huge pension, or maybe you think it is the nurses at A&E that are taking all your cash. But govt does need to sort out where it's money goes and to whom it wastes a fortune.

Tani, west mids, UK

The time of secure public sector posts is past too. There has been a steady erosion of public secor conditions. I query how many employers are charging their staff £80 a year for the works car park. Something to think about when you use your staff discount or recieve your bonus and share dividend.

Zoe, Cardiff, UK

In the real world of the public sector my members are facing stark choices between buying food & paying energy bills, whilst MPs have their £24k expenses. Anyone who thinks we have a cushy number is more than welcome to swap jobs with me - I work with clients with challenging behaviours for £20k pa!

Paul Bee (UNISON Branch Secretary), Wokingham, England

Inflation rising, pay raises falling... Umm nice!
I think I'll leave the military and it's 2.5% raise each year and become a trucker for Shell earning alot more for less work.
Time to change the party in power! Move over old tired labour, hello Conservative or BNP.
Lets make Great Britain great!

Dick Johnson, Peterborough, UK

Anyone up for a vote of no confidence?????

Walk before your pushed, call a general election now!

Dick Johnson, Peterborough, UK

Long time coming - 3.8% inflation and pay offer of 2.8%. No way fair. Especially with cost of fuel up up and away. Go the whole hog and don't resume work till you get what you deserve.

Glynn, Kingston,

Paul, Crodon. I think you’ll find it was companies who took pension holidays – not employees, who continued contributing throughout. On that basis, the Public employees’ employer has a continuous Pension holiday, since Government has no money of its own but what it takes from taxpayers

Bob Finbow, Haverhill, England

As union members those who are striking have an increased level of security as the unions ensure fairness, employment terms etc are adhered to.
Those of us in the real world are facing redundancy due to the economic climate and have little prospect of a replacement job for the foreseeable future.

Rachel, Manchester, UK

As union members those who are striking have an increased level of security as the unions ensure fairness, employment terms etc are adhered to.
Those of us in the real world are facing redundancy due to the economic climate and have little prospect of a replacement job for the foreseeable future.

Rachel, Manchester, UK

It is the tax payer who will fund their pay increase and most of us are unlikely not to get a payrise this year. The public sector have one very cushy job with briiliant benefits. Perhaps they should have them taken away and let them work like the rest of us.

Dave, Southampton,

Do these people have no sense, yes perhaps theys deserve pay rises of up to 2.45% , but the UK is facing recession and increasing inflation. This individualistic attitude toward the economy is only going to plunge us further into recession.

Daniel, Woodstock, England

The public sector should count themselves lucky to have a secure job at the moment while large numbers of the private sector don't know if they will have a job next week. Everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment. I havent seen a pay rise (inc. anything for inflations) at all this year.

James, Sheffield,

It is frustrating as a traditional council worker - Civil Engineer - that affordability of an inflationary settlement is not possible due to the many PR type jobs that have given nothing to public service other than increase the wage/tax bill significantly. Scrap CPA and it's PR baggage!

John, Manchester,

The public sector can't have it all ways - fantastic flexi hours, brilliant pension scheme, and absolutely fantastic sick pay - full pay for 6 months, then half pay? The private sector cannot compete with this, especially the small businesses; and the public sector forgets we the tax payer pays them

Chris, Shrewsbury,

it's just like being back in the 1970s lol
it will take years to sort this mess out!

grindles, london, england

To J Palmer in devon: How about the MPs? Did they tighten their belts on their salaries and expenses?

Charlie, wigan, uk

Public sector pay has fallen well behind the private sector. As for pensions many in the private sector had 'pension holidays' for years where they paid nothing into the funds, but still received a full pension on retirement. The public sector never benefited from this and contributed throughout.

paul, Croydon, uk

Of course the government is going to capitulate over this one. It was Brown's brainchild to increase the number of public sector workers after initially declaring they would reduce them. We have inherited a white elephant that needs constant feeding with public money. It's where our taxes are going!

P. Kelly, Hull, UK

The government will borrow the money to pay off the unions and push the country ever deeper into debt, leaving even more to be inflated away. The final two years of this government are going to be very, very bad indeed!

Paul, Coventry,

If the council workers were self employed - they would be pleased to have the work - this is a crisis time for this country an indeed the world and they need to tighten their belts and ride the rough time with the rest of us!

j Palmer, exeter, devon

Lets take a look at the public sector pension before giving pay rises, They are huge in comparison to the privaye sector, if they want to keep it then they will have to accept considerably lower pay.

Ian, Tokyo, Japan