Unite press release and calling notice

What: Local authority workers will stage a protest ahead of strike ballots next week

When: Friday 9th June, 2pm

Where: Local Government Association, 18 Smith Square ,London, SW1 3HZ &

Welsh Local Government Association, 1 Canal Parade, Dumballs Road, Cardiff, CF10 5BF     

Local Authority workers to stage protests in London and Cardiff 

Strike ballots start to open next week.

A decade of real terms pay cuts means council pay has become so low workers can’t pay their bills.

Local authority workers will stage protests in London and Cardiff as Unite members prepare to ballot for strikes from next week.

The workers will deliver a clear message to the Local Government Association in England and Wales that they will not accept a real terms pay cut.

Members of Unite, employed by local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, have overwhelmingly rejected, the local government employers’ pay offer for 2023/24.

The pay offer of just £1,925 equates to 3.88 per cent and 9.42 per cent depending on the worker’s individual grade - a real terms cut.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Local authority workers are determined to fight another year of real terms pay cuts. They have already endured over a decade of pay freezes and below inflation pay increases. The value of their pay has plummeted by over a quarter in real terms.

“This is totally unacceptable, the workers are staging a fight back and they have Unite’s complete support.”

Unite national officer Clare Keogh said: “Today’s protest is a wakeup call. Council leaders need to return to the negotiating table and propose a vastly improved pay offer.

“Our members are assets to their communities where they live and work. But a decade of real terms pay cuts means council pay has become so low workers can’t pay their bills.”

ENDS

For more information please contact: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315 

Email: Ci[email protected]

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 

Unite is the leading union in the UK and Ireland, dedicated to defending and improving members' jobs, pay and conditions. The general secretary is Sharon Graham