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27/06/2014
Union Confirms Council Strike Action
The union GMB has confirmed its council and school workers are to go on strike next month.
The industrial action was voted in by three to one and has resulted in a one-day strike on 10 July.
In a statement, GMB said it is in a dispute over pay.
The strike will involve staff in Northern Ireland, England and Wales.
Members of the union Unison have already voted to stage industrial action over pay on the same day. It means that more than a million public sector workers could walkout next month.
Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary, said: "Our members have spoken loud and clear and said they want to go on strike.
"We have tried sensible discussions, we've sought to negotiate reasonably, we've said we are willing to accept ACAS arbitration rather than go on strike – but to everything we've tried the employers have said 'no'. So we have no choice."
He continued: "GMB members serving school meals, cleaning streets, emptying bins, looking after the elderly, helping children in classrooms and in all the other vital roles serving our communities are fed up with being ignored and undervalued.
"Their pay has gone up only 1% since 2010 and in October even the national minimum wage will overtake local authority pay scales. Their case is reasonable, the employers won't listen and don't care, no wonder they have turned to strike action as the only way of making their voices heard.
"With other unions involved too, the 10 July looks like being the second biggest dispute ever with up to 2 million workers on strike."
(JP/MH)
The industrial action was voted in by three to one and has resulted in a one-day strike on 10 July.
In a statement, GMB said it is in a dispute over pay.
The strike will involve staff in Northern Ireland, England and Wales.
Members of the union Unison have already voted to stage industrial action over pay on the same day. It means that more than a million public sector workers could walkout next month.
Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary, said: "Our members have spoken loud and clear and said they want to go on strike.
"We have tried sensible discussions, we've sought to negotiate reasonably, we've said we are willing to accept ACAS arbitration rather than go on strike – but to everything we've tried the employers have said 'no'. So we have no choice."
He continued: "GMB members serving school meals, cleaning streets, emptying bins, looking after the elderly, helping children in classrooms and in all the other vital roles serving our communities are fed up with being ignored and undervalued.
"Their pay has gone up only 1% since 2010 and in October even the national minimum wage will overtake local authority pay scales. Their case is reasonable, the employers won't listen and don't care, no wonder they have turned to strike action as the only way of making their voices heard.
"With other unions involved too, the 10 July looks like being the second biggest dispute ever with up to 2 million workers on strike."
(JP/MH)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
