Unions holding strike ballot for council workers

Workers at Nottinghamshire County and Mansfield and Ashfield District councils are among 600,000 local government and school members being balloted and UNISON is encouraging members to vote yes to strike action.

The ballot comes after 70 per cent of members rejected the latest pay offer increase offered by the Government.

The pay offer would mean around 50,000 of the lowest paid local government workers receive a rise that is slightly above inflation. However the remainder of the workforce - around 90 per cent - would receive just one per cent.

According to UNISON, local government workers have seen their pay reduced by almost 20 per cent since the Coalition came to power due to pay freezes and below-inflation rises.

Head of local government, Heather Wakefield, said: “This offer is effectively another pay freeze for the majority of our local government and school members, and they have used this consultation to send a strong message that it is insulting and unacceptable.”

GMB union members have also announced that they are balloting members in local councils and schools after 83 per cent of members rejected the one per cent pay offer.

Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary for public services, said: “Industrial action is not our member’s preference but faced with years pay freezes, low pay, cuts and job losses they are saying enough is enough.”

Members of Unite are also voting on strike action, after 90 per cent of members voted to reject the one per cent pay offer in a consultative ballot.

The ballot will open in early June and the result will be known later this month.

If members of the unions give the green light for strike action, it will take place on Thursday 10th July.