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Assembly members' pay: 'Reject increase' says Unison Assembly members' pay: 'Reject increase' says Unison
(35 minutes later)
A £10,000 pay rise for Welsh assembly members should be rejected, says public sector workers' union Unison.A £10,000 pay rise for Welsh assembly members should be rejected, says public sector workers' union Unison.
The pay proposal represents an 18% increase and is being recommended by an independent panel. An 18% increase from £54,000 to £64,000 after the 2016 election is being recommended by an independent panel.
Under the proposal, an AM would see their salary rise from £54,000 to about £64,000 after the 2016 elections. Liberal Democrat AM Aled Roberts said it would be "very, very difficult for me to look friends and neighbours in the eye" if he accepted the rise.
But Liberal Democrat AM Aled Roberts said it would be "very, very difficult for me to look friends and neighbours in the eye" if he accepted the rise. But Tory AM Antoinette Sandbach said single parents could not afford to stand without more financial support.
He said AMs needed to live in the real world.
The first minister and members of the cabinet would see their pay rise to £140,000 and £100,000 respectively.The first minister and members of the cabinet would see their pay rise to £140,000 and £100,000 respectively.
Live 'like ordinary people'Live 'like ordinary people'
The remuneration board examining Welsh politicians' pay said the increase in salary reflected an increase in responsibility as more power was devolved to Wales.The remuneration board examining Welsh politicians' pay said the increase in salary reflected an increase in responsibility as more power was devolved to Wales.
One senior Unison figure said unless AMs were willing to challenge pay restraint in other public bodies, they should refuse the offer. But Dominic MacAskill, who is head of local government for Unison, said unless AMs could act on stringent pay deals for his members, they should refuse the increase and "lead the life of ordinary working people".
But Dominic MacAskill, who is head of local government for Unison, said unless AMs could act on stringent pay deals for his members, they should say no to the increase and "lead the life of ordinary working people".
The recommendations now go to public consultation with a finalised package to be published in May 2015, a year before the 2016 assembly election.The recommendations now go to public consultation with a finalised package to be published in May 2015, a year before the 2016 assembly election.
Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Commons committee on Standards in Public Life, called the recommendation "an absolutely staggering increase, especially in these austere times".Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Commons committee on Standards in Public Life, called the recommendation "an absolutely staggering increase, especially in these austere times".
He said: "Nurses are going out on strike because not all of them are even getting a 1% increase.He said: "Nurses are going out on strike because not all of them are even getting a 1% increase.
"It couldn't be a worse time to suggest such a massive increase."It couldn't be a worse time to suggest such a massive increase.
"I'm really surprised they're proposing it in one go, rather than if it can be justified staggering it over a much longer period.""I'm really surprised they're proposing it in one go, rather than if it can be justified staggering it over a much longer period."
However he added: "In a democratic system, you do have to have salary arrangements that ensure that anybody, no matter what their background or profession, feel that they can fulfil that public role without submitting their families to a mass of sacrifice in their standard of living."However he added: "In a democratic system, you do have to have salary arrangements that ensure that anybody, no matter what their background or profession, feel that they can fulfil that public role without submitting their families to a mass of sacrifice in their standard of living."
The political parties have given a cautious reaction to the proposals. Officially, the four main parties have given a cautious reaction to the proposals, saying they would need to be discussed further.
A Labour source said the matter "will need to be discussed by the group in the assembly". Lone parents
A Welsh Conservative spokesman said the party remained "committed to a reduction in the cost of Welsh politics" and hoped "as many people as possible have their say" in the consultation. But North Wales Conservative AM Antoinette Sandbach said the pay level was a "barrier" for people who could not afford to stand for the assembly.
Plaid Cymru said the proposals "seem out of step with public sector pay" but would discuss them with the other parties. She said she found it difficult when elected as a single parent living far from Cardiff.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats said they would respond to the proposals "in due course", but added that they had argued that AMs' pay should be frozen for the duration of the current assembly, "at a time when budgets have been squeezed". "The choice was effectively boarding school or two nannies ... the cost of the latter was prohibitive," she said of her child care arrangements.
"There are no policies to support lone parents who are elected ... it is taken for granted that there will be a 'wife' at home who will do the caring for young children.
"If the remuneration board is serious about ensuring equality of access then they need to recognise that they are currently excluding a whole section of society from standing for election."