Councils to impose wage freeze on the lowest paid

More than a million council workers will be told to take a pay freeze this year.

Low-paid workers such as street sweepers and care assistants will get a zero percent “rise”.

Chancellor Alistair Darling had promised to delay the cuts for the lowest-paid workers.

But local government employers decided last week to impose the freeze from April.

Two thirds of council workers already earn less than £18,000 a year.

Labour and the Tories have warned that the freeze could last three years.

The council workers’ unions are meeting to plan their next move.

They should call hard-hitting action.