Unions unite to hold new local government pay strike in October

Public sector unions are to hold a joint strike in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Tuesday 14 October in their latest protest over this year’s local government pay offer.

The strike will involve members of the Unison, GMB and Unite unions, including social workers and care staff, and replaces Unison’s original plan to strike on Tuesday 30 September.

The action follows the 10 July strike that saw around one million public services employees walk out in response to an offer of a 1% pay rise for most local government workers.

Heather Wakefield, head of local government at Unison, said: “Employers and government must be left in no doubt that we are serious in this dispute. As sister unions, we stand together to make sure that our members are treated with decency and respect.

“Our members cannot afford to carry on propping up local services through their pay packets. Many are low-paid women who are being forced to resort to food banks and payday loan sharks just to survive. We need to put the heart back into local government by paying a living wage.”

The strike will be followed by a TUC-organised national demonstration calling for ‘decent pay’ on 18 October.