Sheffield council workers strike over wages

Some 100 workers at Sheffield council struck over pay on Friday of last week. The GMB, Unite and Ucatt union members work as electricians, mechanics and in other craft trades.

They are protesting after being left out of a pay review which saw other workers’ wages rise. Some workers classified as unskilled now earn £4,000 more than them.

The striking workers held a lively protest outside the Labour-run council, chanting and waving trade union flags. They even delivered a toilet seat to the town hall to send an unusual message to their bosses.

Unite convenor Mark Keeling said, “We chose to hand in the toilet seat to let council officials know just how the workers feel about the issue. They really are getting a bum deal.”