Local government faces first national strike in more than a decade

Local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have voted to take strike action in support of a pay claim for £1,750 or 6%. The vote announced today by the three local government unions Ð UNISON, TGWU and GMB Ð will be the first national strike since 1989. The employersÕ ÒfinalÓ offer of 3% had been rejected in an earlier consultative ballot of members.

A national one day strike has been called for July 17. Further action will follow. They will affect social services, residential care, home care, education, environmental health, housing, planning, transport, refuse collection, catering and cleaning.

The unions have claimed a 6% or £1,750 pay rise to bring the minimum wage in local government to £11,017 a year. Two thirds of the local government workforce earn the same average salary as the average allowance paid to council leaders (£12,403).

UNISONÕs National Secretary for Local Government, Heather Wakefield, said:

ÒOur members have voted for industrial action because they are sick of being treated as the poor relations of the public sector. Their case for a realistic pay rise is indisputable.

ÒThe recent GLA Scrutiny Report into London Weighting acknowledges the retention and recruitment crisis in local government and that better pay and other support is a critical factor.

ÒThe employers should be left in no doubt that our action will continue until they return with a realistic offer.Ó

Note to Editors:

UNISON members voted 56.4% in favour on a 40% turnout. The turnout for the 2002 local government elections was 35%.