Workers could strike ‘with heavy heart’

Mar 22 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

COUNCIL workers will go on strike and disrupt public services if they do not secure a pay deal, union bosses have warned.

It comes after more than 1.4m council staff nationwide were offered a 2.2% pay rise which has since been rejected.

More than 50,000 North workers with Unison, the GMB and Unite are supporting a 6% claim tabled by national union chiefs, who are due to meet again on April 2.

The claim is on behalf of workers including refuse collectors, librarians, cleaners, architects, planners, teaching assistants and traffic wardens.

Colin Smith, senior secretary for public services for the GMB in the North, said: “We are calling for central government to release the purse strings of local government.

“It’s not their final offer, but they have come back with an offer of 2.2% and will continue to review the green book, which is the manual agreement. It falls far short of what the claim is. Last year, local government workers suffered the effects of pay cuts. We want to put right the pay cut of last year.

“We do not rule out a campaign of industrial action which could disrupt services.

“However, our members are in the firing line. If it means industrial action, we will do it with a heavy heart – we believe in public services.

“We can’t just sit back and let our members’ pay be reduced.”

The GMB believes £1.5bn saved by central government through restructuring and efficiency services should be “reinvested” in local government workers. Unison regional secretary Gill Hale said families were feeling the pinch when it came to an increased rate of inflation. She said: “It nowhere near meets our aspirations and it’s a bit of a disgrace, really.

“The vast majority of local government workers are in Unison. You certainly can’t rule out industrial action and members feel very strongly about this, what with prices going up.

“We are seeing the weekly shop becoming more expensive, the price of fuel going up and members are really feeling the pinch. Inflation is running much higher than 2.2%.

“Industrial action would be the last resort. We sincerely hope there will be a negotiated settlement which is sufficient.

“However, if there isn’t, we have no option but to resort to industrial action.”