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600,000 council workers vote to strike

23/06/2008

Around 600,000 council staff are set to strike this summer over pay deals, as the government attempts to control inflation.

Trade union Unison said local government members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have voted by 55 per cent to 45 per cent for strike action over a 2.45 per cent pay offer.

Chancellor Alistair Darling has warned employees not to demand pay rises above two per cent in an attempt to bring inflation, currently running at 3.3 per cent, down.

Although the government cannot control private sector pay deals, it signalled below-inflation rises for the public sector.

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: "This is a solid vote for action and a clear message to the local government employers that our members are willing to fight for a decent pay rise.

"They are fed up and angry that they are expected to accept pay cut after pay cut, while bread and butter prices go through the roof.

"Most of them are low-paid workers, who are hit hardest by food and fuel price hikes and they see the unfairness of boardroom bonanzas and big city bonuses.

"Other local government workers who have to use their cars for work are being hit hard too by spiralling fuel costs and they end up subsidising their employers."

The union's pay claim was for a six per cent rise in pay, or 50p and hour, whichever was the greater.

Unison said it will decide tomorrow what action to recommend to the strike council, which meets on Friday. If taken, strike action will be "sustained and escalating" union officials said.

The government's plans to keep pay deals low to control inflation may lead to a 'summer of discontent' analysts warn, with a series of public sector strikes.