Official Picket - Do Not Cross

Unless you've been on a long holiday to another planet, you'll know that local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have voted to take strike action on Wednesday, July 17th in support of a pay claim for 6%.

All UNISON members working in local government, alongside those of the GMB and the T&GWU will take one day's strike action to force the employers back to negotiations. And if over one million local government workers taking strike action for one day doesn't make the employers back down, then more action will be forthcoming.

UNISON Manchester's Branch secretary, Mo Baines said,

"Our members voted for industrial action because they are sick of being treated as the poor relations of the public sector. Their case for a realistic pay rise is indisputable. There is a retention and recruitment crisis in local government and better pay is a critical factor. The employers should be left in no doubt that our action will continue until they return with a realistic offer."

Key Facts:

• The average national basic wage is £19,406. Two thirds of council staff earn less than 13,000

• 20 per cent of local government employees earn less than £5 an hour

• The pay gap between women in local government and men is widening.

• Growing numbers of local government staff are leaving their jobs to earn more elsewhere

• Local government pay is slipping even further behind both private and public sector pay

• Recruitment and retention problems in local government are widespread primarily because of low pay

• The average allowance of Council leaders is the same as the average salary of over half the workforce