National strike for better minimum pay

Unison sent notices to more than 400 councils
in England, Wales and Northern Ireland this week informing them of
the national strike that was due to take place on 17 July.

The
action was expected to affect social services, residential care and
home care as well as education, housing and transport.

Unison
is claiming a £1,750 or 6 per cent pay rise to bring the
minimum wage in local government to £11,017. Currently more
than 250,000 local government workers earn less than £5 an
hour.

Unison
members rejected the 3 per cent offer by the employers, and voted
for industrial action. Local government members from the unions GMB
and TGWU will join them.

The
Employers’ Organisation stated that 3 per cent is their final offer
as it is all that most councils have budgeted for.