01/08/2014

Unions Agree To Escalate Pay Dispute

Unions representing more than a million local government workers, GMB, UNISON and Unite, have agreed to escalate their dispute over pay with a campaign running into the autumn.

The three unions have agreed that their members will run a co-ordinated strike of their local government and school members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Tuesday 14 October.

The strike will be just a few days before the TUC organised national demonstration on 18 October calling for decent pay.

Local government workers have suffered three years of a pay freeze, followed by a below inflation pay deal and have now been offered a paltry 1%. They have seen their pay reduced in value by 20% since 2010. This resulted in a one day strike on 10 July.

No further talks have taken place since that date, despite the unions offering to go to the Government's arbitration and conciliation service.

Unite National Officer, Fiona Farmer, said: "Local government workers have had years of real pay cuts, working harder to deliver vital local services while being paid less and struggling to make ends meet.

"Low paid members unable to afford basis essentials are having to choose between heating and eating. On 1st October the National Minimum Wage will overtake local government pay scales, we need Fair Pay not Poverty Pay."

(CD/JP)

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