Council and school support staff from the UNISON union have begun voting on whether to strike over pay.
A wage offer made by employers to local government staff is “nowhere near what’s needed to meet rising prices during the cost of living crisis”, the union said. It has called for an increase of 2% above inflation, and is now asking more than 360,000 workers it represents across England and Wales in the sector whether they are prepared to take industrial action.
“Since 2010, the value of local government pay has fallen by 25% and the offer of a flat rate rise of £1,925 falls way short of workers’ expectations and needs,” UNISON stated.
The six-week ballot closes on Tuesday 4 July and covers staff at 4,000 different employers.
A separate ballot for Northern Ireland will open in August.
Christina McAnea, general secretary at UNISON, commented: “Too often council and school support staff are taken for granted. Without them, the services on which whole communities rely won’t exist.
“With cuts to local government and education budgets, employees are having to do more with far less. That puts huge pressure on an already-stretched workforce struggling to keep afloat as costs continue to soar.
“Staff are leaving their jobs because pay is falling ever further behind, and neighbourhoods will suffer. Bins won’t be collected, schools won’t have sufficient staff and vulnerable people will be deprived of vital support.
“These workers are truly dedicated but they’ve had enough. Going on strike is a huge step that isn’t taken lightly but many feel they have to make a stand.
“Employers can do far better. But ministers also need to step up to make sure local government is given the funding it needs, so staff get a decent wage and services are protected.”
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Members of unions GMB and Unite in England, Wales and Northern Ireland previously voted to reject the pay offer, moving to industrial action ballots.
In February, the National Employers for local government services – which negotiates pay on behalf of 350 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – put forward the pay offer, which equates to a 9.42% pay rise for the lowest-paid workers and a 3.88% increase for staff on higher salaries.
Unite has stated that if its members vote for industrial action, strikes could begin before the end of July.
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