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A national one-day strike over pay by local government workers is likely to affect the provision of social care services, according to Unison’s national officer for social services, writes Katie Leason.

Owen Davies said that the action planned for 17 July will lead to "substantial disruption" of services, but stressed that branches are being urged to talk to employers about implementing emergency cover at a local level.

He added that the intention was not to cause danger to clients but to "bring home to employers the intolerable pay situation". Members had no alternative, but to show their anger in this particular way, he said.

Local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland voted to take strike action in support of a pay claim of 6 per cent or £1,750. This rise would bring the minimum wage in local government to £11,017 a year.

The strike by members of local government unions Unison, TGWU, and GMB, will be the first national strike since 1989, and will affect social services, residential care, home care and education.