Unite local government staff to continue pay disputes

Where members have voted for industrial action, the union will proceed with strikes on a council-by-council basis.
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Trade union Unite, representing local government staff, has confirmed it will support strike action for its members who have secured a mandate for industrial action.

This came after other local government unions accepted this year’s national pay offer under the ‘Green Book,’ which covers the majority of workers in the sector.

Unite, however, rejected the offer and completed balloting its local government members.

Where members have voted for industrial action, the union will proceed with strikes on a council-by-council basis.

Details of the planned industrial action will be announced soon, once finalised with local members.

Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “Local government workers need a fair pay rise, after years of pay freezes and below inflation increases.

“Where Unite members are prepared to stand up and take industrial action, the union will have their backs every step of the way.”

In addition to the strikes, Unite will campaign for better local government funding.

Several councils have declared effective bankruptcy, leading to cuts in essential services.

Clare Keogh, national officer for local government at Unite, said: “Workers are not to blame for the crisis in local government and they cannot continue to pay the price for 14 years of Government failure to fund councils properly.

“Additional funding was rightly provided for other public sector workers to receive an above inflation pay rise, but this was denied to council workers and school support staff.

“Unite will be campaigning over the coming months for funding in local government that matches need.”

Zarah Choudhary

Zarah Choudhary is a Reporter for Workplace Journal and The Intermediary

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