National collective pay bargaining in local government is on the verge of collapse. Some might say “good, about time too”. But is everyone prepared for the anarchy that would ensue?    

Since our 10 July strike, talks to avert another mass walkout over pay have stuttered and started. GMB and the other unions are making every effort to find a resolution to the dispute.

But now the employers are threatening to rip up our national protocols and impose a settlement locally without union agreement. This would initiate a pay and conditions free-for-all. And once that genie is out of the bottle you can throw the stopper away. It would be the end of the National Joint Council (NJC) and with it national pay and conditions.