by Daniel LombardThis summer is likely to be a stormy one for Britain's local government sector.
Beneath the ballooning cloud of rising fuel, food and utility costs, the scene is set for a long and torrid battle between cash-strapped workers and belt-tightening employers over pay.
Some 600,000 social workers, care staff, cleaners, waste disposal workers and other Unison members are threatening to strike in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 16 and 17 July, which is expected to be confirmed by midday on Friday 27 June.
It could be followed by local government workers at Unite, whose members are equally appalled at the 2.45% offer on the table. Their strike ballot closes on the same day.
With NHS workers and civil servants debating whether to join the picket-line gang, the government is bracing itself for 'a summer of discontent', according to one newspaper.
Heather Wakefield, head of local government at the Unison, warned the government to expect "sustained and escalating" strike action if their demands for a 6% increase are not taken on board, but the Local Government Employers retorted that 2.45% was "our final offer".
This comes on the back of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's warning - well, more of a plea, really - to staff and managers to accept pay rises of 2% ahead of a "tough" year.
It's looking increasingly like a 1970s-style battle, with neither side showing any sign of bowing to pressure.
Unison's general secretary Dave Prentis chose to attack the "unfairness of boardroom bonanzas and big city bonuses", but how much influence will public services workers have in addressing this long-running inequality?
As a member of a union myself I understand that when all else fails, striking is the only way to make your voice heard.
But if I and my colleagues down tools, we're only endangering our own well-being (and career prospects).
When local government workers walk out, they potentially disrupt the care of some of society's most vulnerable people - a concern raised by the LGE in its statement.
A really interesting debate on the rights and wrongs of social workers striking is being had on CareSpace on this topic, with one contributor explaining her refusal to strike on ethical grounds: "I came in [to social work] to protect children and I can't do this if I am on the picket line."
Another Unison member in London told me that going on strike would actually improve services in the long run, because better pay equals better morale.
A social worker for older people with dementia, she said they always have skeleton staff in her borough on such occasions and "service users aren't going to be left in the lurch". Not everyone is a union member, but even if they are, they still might not join in.
"It's about the recognition. The employers say 'you're worth this', but we think 'well actually we deserve better than that'.
"If I'm more respected and valued, that can rub off on my clients," she said.
The morale issue is a hugely important one for social care workers, particularly in domiciliary care, where turnover is running at 28% and pay is so low, according to Unison national officer Helga Pile, that "the sector is competing with fast food outlets for staff".
Official figures suggested the average wage for social workers in England in 2006 was £26,700. For care workers, who carry out some of the least appealing but most important tasks, it is £11,200.
Given the trend of out-sourcing these services to the private sector, it's not clear how many care assistants will be taking part in next month's strike, or indeed if they have a collective voice.
But if anyone deserves better working conditions, it is them.
It could be followed by local government workers at Unite, whose members are equally appalled at the 2.45% offer on the table. Their strike ballot closes on the same day.
With NHS workers and civil servants debating whether to join the picket-line gang, the government is bracing itself for 'a summer of discontent', according to one newspaper.
Heather Wakefield, head of local government at the Unison, warned the government to expect "sustained and escalating" strike action if their demands for a 6% increase are not taken on board, but the Local Government Employers retorted that 2.45% was "our final offer".
This comes on the back of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's warning - well, more of a plea, really - to staff and managers to accept pay rises of 2% ahead of a "tough" year.
It's looking increasingly like a 1970s-style battle, with neither side showing any sign of bowing to pressure.
Unison's general secretary Dave Prentis chose to attack the "unfairness of boardroom bonanzas and big city bonuses", but how much influence will public services workers have in addressing this long-running inequality?
As a member of a union myself I understand that when all else fails, striking is the only way to make your voice heard.
But if I and my colleagues down tools, we're only endangering our own well-being (and career prospects).
When local government workers walk out, they potentially disrupt the care of some of society's most vulnerable people - a concern raised by the LGE in its statement.
A really interesting debate on the rights and wrongs of social workers striking is being had on CareSpace on this topic, with one contributor explaining her refusal to strike on ethical grounds: "I came in [to social work] to protect children and I can't do this if I am on the picket line."
Another Unison member in London told me that going on strike would actually improve services in the long run, because better pay equals better morale.
A social worker for older people with dementia, she said they always have skeleton staff in her borough on such occasions and "service users aren't going to be left in the lurch". Not everyone is a union member, but even if they are, they still might not join in.
"It's about the recognition. The employers say 'you're worth this', but we think 'well actually we deserve better than that'.
"If I'm more respected and valued, that can rub off on my clients," she said.
The morale issue is a hugely important one for social care workers, particularly in domiciliary care, where turnover is running at 28% and pay is so low, according to Unison national officer Helga Pile, that "the sector is competing with fast food outlets for staff".
Official figures suggested the average wage for social workers in England in 2006 was £26,700. For care workers, who carry out some of the least appealing but most important tasks, it is £11,200.
Given the trend of out-sourcing these services to the private sector, it's not clear how many care assistants will be taking part in next month's strike, or indeed if they have a collective voice.
But if anyone deserves better working conditions, it is them.
I work in Mental Health , along side nurse colleagues, who have recently recieved their 8% pay rise over the next 3 years. I will be earning less than the nurses that I have responsibilities for managing. I am also expected to be part of the training programe for AMPH! we have no indication of a pay increase that has parity with our nurse colleagues. There are considerable core skills that are common to both roles of SW and CPN within the CMHT's. Whilst the ammendment act is being roled out , the pay issue seems to be deliberatly ignored. SW's are in a post code lottery with pay deals in Mental Health. Some areas pay their ASW's up to 36k!
The argument for meekly accepting anything that erodes pay and professional standards on the basis of "I came in [to social work] to protect children and I can't do this if I am on the picket line." is that we should go back to the era of Almoners and the bored rich doing good works. It always amazes me that a "profession" that prides itself on attracting a diverse group of workers and fetishises the "celebration of difference" falls back on the tired middle class mantra of "we are only here for the clients" If you want a social workforce made up of the otherwise unemployed offspring of the rich, have your condescending stereotypes of who should do social work. Those of us who have no other means than our wages to support ourselves and tackle the inequalities of our country through our work have other ideas. I came into social work because of the vilification and violence I suffered as a bin man in the so called winter of discontent. I need no lectures from the likes of the LGE on the merits of responsibility when I see the pay and perks of senior social care managers. Those of us who do not support New Labour can easily settle for the Tories. They at least remain consistent in their wish to represent their own class interests. Ooops, a naughty bit of politics there, sorry for being so unreconstructed.