UNISON’s local government industrial action ballot in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will start on 23 May after members overwhelmingly rejected the employers’ 1% pay offer.
The ballot will last four weeks, ending on 23 June.
Members will be asked if they are prepared to take strike action. If there is a ‘yes’ vote and the union’s industrial action committee gives the green light, industrial action will start in July.
“Members have rejected the constant decline in NJC pay and services run on goodwill and under-investment in the workforce,” says UNISON head of local government Heather Wakefield.
The ballot will cover UNISON members whose pay, terms and conditions are tied to the National Joint Council for Local Government Services.
This will include some staff in the fire and emergency planning services and national parks, as well as voluntary controlled, voluntary aided, foundation and trust schools.
The ballot will cover all staff employed by councils who covered by the NJC.
This will include chief officers, craft workers and youth and community workers., who are covered by other bargaining arrangements, but work for councils and will be affected by the outcome of the dispute as negotiations always take account of the position of the NJC.
Members on local pay and conditions or individual contracts not related to the NJC agreement will not be balloted.
Members who have transferred under TUPE from a local authority will also not be balloted unless they are contractually conditioned to NJC pay and conditions.
Bulletin: NJC pay offer: get ready for industrial action ballot
