Hundreds of staff from four Merseyside councils could walk out after rejecting a 3.3% pay offer from national employers. Unite the Union members are balloting for strike action across Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton and Knowsley Councils, as well as the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Pay offer deemed a 'real-terms pay cut'
Unite said the pay offer fails to address years of below-inflation increases and pay freezes. The union described it as a 'real-terms pay cut' and claimed it was not involved in any negotiations. Workers affected include waste and bin collectors, street cleaners, street lighting staff, teaching assistants and home care workers.
Union leader condemns 'pathetic pay deals'
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: 'Council workers are struggling to keep their heads above water after over a decade of pathetic pay deals. Employers are again trying to cut the real terms pay of workers instead of investing in our members, who do vital jobs in our communities. Unite will not stand by and allow our members to have another paltry pay deal inflicted on them. They have our full backing in their fight for fair pay.'
Ballot details and participating councils
The month-long ballot opens on July 16 and closes on August 17. It involves 22 local authorities across England and Wales, including Great Yarmouth, North East Lincolnshire, South Tyneside, Blackburn with Darwen, Bolton, Cumberland, Knowsley, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool City Region, Oldham, Sefton, Warrington, Westmorland and Furness, Wirral, Bristol, Cardiff, Durham, Haringey, Leeds, Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth and Southampton. More councils may join later.
Impact on services
Clare Keogh, Unite national officer for local authorities, said: 'After years of real term pay cuts imposed without negotiations, council workers have had enough and see no option but to take action to make their voices heard. Strike action will have a huge impact on the council services communities depend on, but this is entirely the fault of national employers refusing to negotiate.'
A Knowsley Council spokesperson said: 'The pay award is managed nationally by the National Employers, rather than locally by the council. If action is taken by Unite and their members, we will review how this could impact on service delivery in order to ensure that essential support and services we provide to our residents can continue.'
Liverpool, Wirral and Sefton Councils, as well as the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, were contacted for comment.
