Town halls and schools across the country have been closed today, as hundreds of thousands of UNISON’s local government and school support workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland take strike action over pay.
Pickets have been out in force at town halls and schools from early this morning, with major marches and rallies set to take place in towns and cities across the country. Hot spots have included the North East, Wales and East Midlands where most council offices have been closed, while more than 60 picket lines have closed the majority of services in Newcastle. On the south coast and Wales, delivery vans have refused to cross picket lines. In London strikers mounted more than 150 picket lines with many workers refusing to cross. Initial reports show the strike has lead to 3,225 school closures with more than a thousand others partially closed.
The majority of strikers are low paid, mainly women workers,who have endured a three year pay freeze and are protesting over this year’s miserly 1% offer. The lowest paid earn just above the statutory national minimum wage and were denied the £250 promised by Chancellor George Osborne.
Refuse collectors, school support staff, cleaners, street sweepers, care workers, nursery assistants and social workers, are among those who have walked out.
Unions are calling for a £1.20 an hour rise, to bring the lowest level of pay in local government and schools to the Living Wage.* They are calling on the Local Government Association to re-consider its refusal to get back into talks or go to the Government’s conciliation service ACAS.
UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:
“It is a massive decision by local government and school support workers to sacrifice a day’s pay by going on strike, but today they are saying enough is enough.
“It is a scandal that people who educate and support children in schools, maintain crucial local services, keep our communities clean and safe places to live and protect the homeless and vulnerable, are not paid at least the Living Wage.
“We are calling on the Local Government Employers to come back to the table and settle this dispute. Politicians from all parties have been talking about the need to end low pay and introduce the Living Wage, and they must get their own house in order first.”
More than half a million local government workers earn less than the current Living Wage and a million earn less than the Coalition’s ‘low pay’ threshold of £21,000 a year. The Living Wage is £7.65 and £8.80 in London.
More than half of the cost would be recouped through increased tax and National Insurance take, so it is affordable.”
ends
Notes to Editors
*The Living Wage is £7.65 and £8.80 in London
In April, UNISON members voted to reject the pay offer and move to a formal ballot for strike action, which was followed by a yes vote in a strike ballot last month.
