Thousands of social workers, teaching assistants, planning officers, caretakers and other school and council staff are to be asked if they’re prepared to take strike action over this year’s pay offer, says their union UNISON today (Friday).
The move follows a recent consultation concerning the 2024/25 wage rise for local authority and school workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In this vote 81% of the workers who took part opted to reject what they’d been offered.
The pay offer from the local government employers was for £1,290. The wage rise was due in April. The offer has been accepted by the GMB, but not by UNISON or Unite.
Ballot papers will now be sent to around 360,000 UNISON members across England and Wales, with Northern Ireland to follow later. The ballot will open on 4 September and close on 16 October.
UNISON head of local government Mike Short said: “Council and school staff were asked what they wanted to do about the employers’ pay offer. A majority of those who took part opted to reject the £1,290 increase.
“Now the union’s committee of leading activists has decided to conduct an industrial action ballot to try to secure an improved pay offer.
“The legal threshold required is a hard one to meet, and so everyone who wants to take action must be sure that they and all their colleagues return their ballot papers. The local government employers should come forward with an improved pay offer.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
