Swansea votes to strike over pay

Social workers in Swansea have voted for industrial action over pay
rates.

Of the 87 social workers and social work practitioners who returned
ballot papers, four in five voted to strike. Public sector union
Unison said pay scales in Swansea had fallen from being the highest
in Wales to the lowest and were calling for real increases.

A meeting of Unison staff will decide how the ballot will be
implemented. Managers are preparing to offer staff £1,000 a
year each.

Meanwhile, there is a glimmer of hope in the seven-week strike
involving about 100 staff at Liverpool Council’s children and
families department over workloads and job cuts. A council
spokesperson said it was willing to go to conciliation service Acas
to resolve the dispute.