UNISON’s local government and school support workers in Northern Ireland, Wales and England have voted yes to strike action in a dispute over pay.
The low paid, mainly women, workers have faced a three year pay freeze and have now been offered a 1% pay rise.
The lowest are paid just above the statutory national minimum wage.
Voting was as follows:
For: 58.7%
Against: 41.3%
The union’s UK National Joint Council committee is now meeting to decide next steps.
UNISON gaeneral 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.
“This is the group that has borne the brunt of the Westminster government’s austerity agenda.”
UNISON Northern Ireland regional organiser Brian Ferguson added: “This decision for industrial action will affect our members in school support services.
“We anticipate there will be action on 10t July at education and library board headquarters across Northern Ireland.
“In the meantime, we call on the employers to get back into talks to agree a fair deal for local government and school support workers.”
