PAY increases for staff working for Douglas Corporation are likely to be few and far between, following a statement issued yesterday by Council leader David Christian.

Councillor Christian has said that any future staff pay awards can only be funded from existing resources, which suggests that there is little likelihood of increases in the near future.

Councillor Christian’s statement follows a meeting of the policy and resources committee, of which he is chairman, in which members fully supported his stance on pay agreements.

Councillor Christian said in the statement, “I wish to make it clear that no extra funding will be made available and the Council can not countenance passing the burden of pay awards on to our ratepayers at a time when many of them will have had no pay increases for two or three years.

“In this current climate of widespread economic uncertainty my duty, and that of my fellow committee members, is to protect jobs.

“Any pay increases must be funded from the current workforce budget - even if that means not filling vacant posts - and I would hope for a positive response from Council employees in these difficult times.”