Local government unions are calling for a pay rise at least in line with the rate of inflation. UNISON, GMB and UNITE also want additional increases for lower paid workers. Their claim comes as local authority leaders confimed that the credit crunch was leading to councils cutting jobs and stopping recruitment.

Read more on COUNCIL WORKERS SUBMIT PAY CLAIM AS AUTHORITIES CONFIRM JOB CUTS…

The Government may face a call to allow local authorities to consider moral and human rights issues when they make decisions on awarding contracts. An all-party group from Birmingham City Council, the country’s largest local authority, has won support for the idea following Israeli attacks on Gaza .

After members supported a call for a boycott of Israeli goods and services a cross-party statement was issued calling on the council’s Executive to lobby the government to permit local authorities “to exercise moral, ethical and human rights considerations when awarding contracts.” The council leadership is also being urged to pursue a policy of instituting sanctions against Israel.

The call for a boycott of Israeli goods and services was initiated by Councillor Salma Yaqoob, leader of the Respect group, with the support of Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat colleagues. Councillor Yaqoob described the all-party call as a significant breakthrough and added, “The principle here is moral consistency. It is not that Israel should be singled out for punitive measures, but that it should stop being treated with kid gloves and given diplomatic cover for acting above the law.”

Read more on COUNCILLORS CALL FOR RIGHT TO CONSIDER MORAL ISSUES IN CONTACT DECISIONS…

Grow your own initiatives, where local authorities and the independent sector support their employees, or potential employees, to qualify as social workers are becoming more popular. This report from the General Social Care Council analyses the benefits, costs and challenges of different types of Grow Your Own schemes and their impact on higher education course provision, student progression, and recruitment and retention.

Read more on WHAT WORKS IN ‘GROW YOUR OWN’ INITIATIVES FOR SOCIAL WORK…