Local government workers to vote on action

The union Unison is to ballot 600,000 of its local government members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for strikes over pay.

They overwhelmingly rejected a measly 1 percent pay offer in a consultative ballot. 

The union issued a statement saying, “If there is a ‘yes’ vote and the union’s industrial action committee gives the green light, industrial action will start in July.”

The ballot begins on 23 May and ends on 23 June.

“We need an active campaign around the ballot,” Tower Hamlets Unison branch secretary John McLoughlin said to Socialist Worker in a personal capacity.

“Branches need to start talking now to as many members as possible, produce branch bulletins and hold section meetings to build the biggest vote for action we can.

“How we build the ballot will be crucial to how successful the strike can be,” he said.

Around one third of those being balloted work in schools where teachers in the NUT union have announced they will strike in the summer term.

John said, “Let’s have joint local rallies with teachers, health workers and any others fighting back. 

“Working with other unions will benefit us all. And we should pass motions for sustained, coordinated national action.”