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Council leaders are bracing themselves for a ‘war of attrition' between the Government and unions, after workers voted for strike action over pay. Just 27% of Unison's 600,000 council members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland voted in the ballot over the 2.45% pay offer. By a narrow margin, 55% voted for and 45% against strike action, and the first walkouts will begin on 16 and 17 July. An official response on how councils will cope is expected on Friday (27 June) – the same day the vote is likely to be approved by Unison's national strike committee, when it meets on 27 June. A source close to the employers negotiating with unions warned that with no extra money and ministers determined to keep the lid on inflation-busting pay deals, there was little chance of avoiding strikes with a war of attrition likely. Heather Wakefield, the union's head of local government, warned the strike would force ‘everything from local government' to stop. ‘We are talking about bins, schools, council offices, environmental health inspectors – all those important services which local communities rely on,' said Ms Wakefield. Unison general secretary, Dave Prentis, said: ‘Most of our members are low-paid workers, who are hit hardest by food and fuel price hikes, and they see the unfairness of boardroom bonanzas and big city bonuses.' Almost 250,000 local government members earn less than £6.50 an hour, and 75% are women. The unions' pay claim was for 6%, or 50p an hour, whichever was the greater. But Brian Baldwin, chairman of the local government employers' negotiators, said Unison needed to give careful thought to calling strike action in the light of the 27% ballot turnout. ‘Any strike action Unison calls could have serious implications for some of the most vulnerable people in society and would not change the fact that our last offer was our final offer. ‘The settlement was affordable, while at the same time, made sure that local government continued to be an attractive place to work. ‘If the pay settlement set any higher, then councils will be forced into making unpalatable choices between cutting frontline services and laying off staff. Neither unions nor employers would want either of these options,' said Mr Baldwin.

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WHITEHALL

Pay ballot threatens summer of discontent

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