Local government pay

A ballot by the UNISON public sector union for strike action against a 1% offer in Scotland, suggests that workers are wearying of seeing their living standards cut.

UNISON secretary Mike Kirby said members had seen the value of their pay fall by more than 10% in the last three years. The ballot runs until 13 August and if members vote yes the proposal is for a minimum of three days of strike action over a seven-week period in the autumn.

For local government staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the unions have reluctantly accepted a 1% rise with effect from 1 April on all pay points and nationally-agreed protected allowances, with the deletion of the lowest pay point (point 4) from October. After a significant vote against the deal, the GMB, UNISON and Unite unions warned that a similar offer next year would be totally unacceptable.

www.unison.org.uk/news/articles/inflation-is-grim-news-for-struggling-scottish-workers