"Local government employers need to realise that morale is at an all time low," UNISON warned today as it published its 2008 survey of local government workers.

"Staff and services are already stretched to breaking point," added the union’s head of local government Heather Wakefield.

The survey comes after negotiators rejected a 0.5% pay offer for council workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ms Wakefield said: "Local government staff are already some of the lowest paid in the public sector. Offering 0.5% is nothing short of a disgrace.

"It is time to finally recognise the vital role local government staff play in our society with better pay."

UNISON surveyed 3,513 local government workers in all four UK countries. Among other things, the survey revealed that:

• 60% of staff believed morale had worsened over the last year, with only 50% saying they would recommend their jobs to others;
• all groups of staff reported working overtime, with managers, social services, teaching assistants and social workers doing the most hours above their contracted employment;
• 38% of male employees and 29% of female employees said they had witnessed job losses, leading to job security being the most important issue for local government employees;
• 36% said staff shortages had occurred most days or every week and 43% said staff shortages were due to employees leaving and not being replaced;
• the most redundancies were in the east of England and north west, with the smallest numbers in Northern Ireland and Scotland;
• survey respondents said that greater recognition of staff input would be the most important way to improve services in local government.