Further unrest in local authorities
29 July 2008
Unite members in the craft section of local government are being
balloted for strike action over the same below inflation pay offer
that saw 40,000 Unite members strike on the 16th and 17th July.
A consultative ballot of Unite's 14,000 craft members across
England, Northern Ireland and Wales saw members vote 3 to 1 in
favour of rejecting the 2.45 percent pay offer and also in support
of industrial action.
With inflation now at 4.6 percent the offer represents a pay cut
in real terms for workers including plumbers, electricians, joiners
and gas fitters.
John Allott, Unite National Officer says:
"Unite will be urging its members to vote yes to industrial
action in order to urge the employers to make a reasonable pay
offer in line with inflation. The offer they have made is an insult
to our members and will result in a huge cut in living standards
for them all.
"The recent rise in living costs has meant that the average
household has had to find an extra £1537 from the family budget in
2008, compared to 2007, to cover basic costs such as food and
petrol."
With one quarter of new pay deals in the private sector being
settled at or above 4.3 percent the pay gap between the public and
the private sector is widening. Both sets of workers face the same
pressures on costs of living and the pay gap is far too wide.
Unite will be issuing a notice of the ballot to employers on
Monday 11th August and the ballot is due to close on Monday 1st
September.
UCATT are also balloting their members and any planned strike
action will be coordinated between the two unions.
-Ends-
For further information contact the Unite press office on 020
7420 8938
