End the freeze

The enormous email barrage came just a day after economists warned that inflation would creep higher and further eat away at council employees' pay.

Families are already struggling on squeezed budgets but another year of real-wage cuts will pile on immense pressure.

Unison spelled out the human stories behind the pay freeze in its email to councillors.

One 50-year-old woman with dependents noted how the cost of essentials had soared while her pay had stood still for three years.

"I work incredibly hard. Many key posts are either unfilled or have been cut which means I do more and more work for less and less money. I feel undervalued," she said.

"I have such a low income I am considering giving up my job to get benefits.

"How sad, as I love my job."

The union said: "RPI on Tuesday edged up to 3.1 per cent, piling yet more pressure onto local government workers and their families.

"Most employers have refused to honour George Osborne's pledge to pay a £250 increase to all public-sector workers earning less than £21,000."

Unison is currently negotiating the 2013-14 pay round with councils, which have shed 250,000 jobs since the Con-Dems took power in 2010.

Unison head of local government Heather Wakefield said: "We know how tough finances are for councils - they have been singled out by the coalition for its harshest cuts.

"But councillors need to know how tough things are for the people working harder than ever to keep local government services running.

"Wages have been driven down by rising prices and it is not only those on the lowest pay who are struggling. Middle earners are also facing sleepless nights over how to keep food on the table.

"Giving workers a decent rise would also help to stimulate local economies."