|
Tuesday, 30 October 2007 15:48 |
|
Local Government workers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland have slammed this years below inflation annual pay award but stopped short of outright industrial action at this satge, effectively putting employers and the Government in the "last Chance saloon" over pay.
UNISON's Head of Local Government Heather Wakefield said: "Members have told employers that this critically important issue won't go away. This is effectively our members fourth consecutive annual pay cut and since 2003 local council workers across the UK have seen they pay packets falling further behind the rise in living costs and thousands of low paid staff suffer chronic financial hardship". We will shortly be submitting our claim for the 2008 pay round. Next year we expect the employers to end their bargain basement treatment of our members once and for all. The ballot closed on Friday and it saw 144,719 vaild papers returned, with 74,631 members (51.6%) voting for action and 70,088 (48.4%) voting against. Due to the narrow majority the result does not constitute the basis for viable industrial action.
|
