Members of largest union in local government sector vote for strike action

Members of the largest union in the local government sector have voted in favour of strike action over pay.

The vote among Unison’s local government and school support workers was 49,836 in favour (58.7%) and 35,062 against (41.3%).

The union said its national committee would now be meeting to decide the next steps.

Unison General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said: “These workers care for our elderly, clean our streets, feed and educate our school children and keep our libraries running, but they receive no recognition in their pay packets. 

“They are mainly low paid women workers, stressed and demoralised, and they deserve better from their employers and from this Government. This is the group that has borne the brunt of the Government’s austerity agenda.”

He added: “We will now be discussing next steps. But we call on the employers to get back into talks to agree a fair deal for local government and school support workers.”

Responding to the union’s announcement, a Local Government Association spokesman said: “It is disappointing that Unison will be proceeding with strike action. Local government staff have worked wonders while councils have been tackling the biggest funding cuts in living memory and we have no doubt that many will still be at work on the day of strike action.

“The pay offer we have made would increase the pay of most employees by one per cent while the lowest paid would receive an increase of more than four per cent. This is the fairest possible deal for our employees given the limits of what we can afford.”

He added: “This strike will not change the pay offer we have made, but it will mean those who take part lose a day’s pay.”

Two other unions – the GMB and Unite – have also been holding strike ballots of members who work in councils and schools.