Third union sees local government members vote for strike action

Unite has become the third union to see those of its members working for councils and schools vote in favour of strike action next month.

The move, which follows similar votes among members at Unison and the GMB, will see a day of action take place on 10 July.

Unite reported that its members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland had voted by 68% to take strike action and by 79% to take industrial action short of a strike.

The Local Government Association expressed disappointment with the announcement and pointed to what it considered to be a low turnout.

The union said its 70,000 members in local government had endured four years of cuts in real terms.

Unite national officer for local government Fiona Farmer said: “Our members…. have now voted overwhelmingly to strike on 10 July to drive home the message to ministers that ‘poverty pay’ in local government must end.

“The depth of feeling on the pay issue is reinforced by the fact that local government unions, GMB and Unison, and members of the National Union of Teachers are all taking action on 10 July.”

She added: “The aim is to get the employers back around the table to negotiate a fair deal for those who deliver vital local government services, from social care to refuse collection, on a daily basis.” 

Unite said it was seeking a £1-an-hour increase in pay for the local council workforce.

A Local Government Association spokesman said: “It is disappointing that Unite will be proceeding with strike action when the turnout was so low. Overall, only 5 per cent of the total workforce have voted for this strike.

“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.”

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