Strike looms at Breckland council services

A series of one-day strikes could hit Breckland council in Norfolk.

Strike action was backed by 89 percent of Unison union members at Breckland and 99 percent supported action short of a strike.

The union has 168 members among the 340 employees at Breckland, and 96 of these voted in the ballot.

Unison is planning one-day strikes plus a work-to-rule and boycotting “certain council activities”.

Unison has to give the council seven days notice of any industrial action.

The possibility of action which could disrupt services which Breckland runs – including leisure centres, environmental health, planning and housing – has moved closer than it has done during a lengthy dispute over a pay claim and a new pay scheme.

Breckland has offered staff a pay rise of 3 percent over 18 months while the union has asked for 5 percent over that period.

Unison regional organiser Sasha Pearce said: “The ballot result underlines how angry people feel about the way they are being treated. The council has left us with no other option than to take quite drastic action because they are not listening.”