Unison ballot on ‘disappointing’ offer

Public sector union Unison has recommended its
members vote to reject the local authorities’ 3 per cent pay offer.
The union, which represents 860,000 council workers, said the
employers’ offer was “a kick in the teeth”.

Unison local
government national officer Malcolm Wing said: “If our members
reject the offer there is likely to be support for industrial
action as the only way to bring the employers back to the
negotiating table.”

Wing described the
offer as “bitterly disappointing” for local government workers,
particularly the 270,000 who earn less than £5 an hour. It is
seeking a flat-rate increase of £1,750 to give a minimum wage
of £11,017 or a 6 per cent increase, whichever is greater.

The Transport and
General Workers’ Union, which also represents council workers, said
that the government was “on the brink” of the first national strike
since the “winter of discontent” in 1978-9.