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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, public sector workers' union Unison has said. | A £10,000 pay rise for Welsh assembly members should be rejected, public sector workers' union Unison has said. |
| An 18% increase from £54,000 to £64,000 after the 2016 election 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. |
| Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said she would only accept the pay rise if everyone in Wales was on the living wage. | |
| But Tory member Antoinette Sandbach said single parents could not afford to serve as AMs without more money. | But Tory member Antoinette Sandbach said single parents could not afford to serve as AMs without more money. |
| 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. |
| 'Absolutely staggering' | 'Absolutely staggering' |
| The assembly's remuneration board said the pay rise reflected an increase in responsibility as more power was devolved to Wales. | The assembly's remuneration board said the pay rise reflected an increase in responsibility as more power was devolved to Wales. |
| But Dominic MacAskill, head of local government for Unison, said unless AMs could improve stringent pay deals for his members, they should refuse the increase and "lead the life of ordinary working people". | But Dominic MacAskill, head of local government for Unison, said unless AMs could improve stringent pay deals for his members, they should refuse 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...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." |
| Lone parents | Lone parents |
| North Wales Conservative AM Antoinette Sandbach said the pay level was a "barrier" for people who could not afford to stand for the assembly. | |
| She said she found it difficult when elected as a single parent living far from Cardiff. | She said she found it difficult when elected as a single parent living far from Cardiff. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Liberal Democrat AM Aled Roberts said it would be "very, very difficult" for him "to look friends and neighbours in the eye" if he accepted the rise. | |
| Jeff Cuthbert, who is standing down as Labour AM for Caerphilly in 2016, said AMs were "taken aback" by the recommended rise. | Jeff Cuthbert, who is standing down as Labour AM for Caerphilly in 2016, said AMs were "taken aback" by the recommended rise. |
| But he pointed out that they had taken a voluntary pay freeze over the last four years and would be taking on more responsibility. | But he pointed out that they had taken a voluntary pay freeze over the last four years and would be taking on more responsibility. |