Local government workers have shunned an annual pay increase amounting to less than £1 a day for many, and are moving closer to strike action. A widespread consultation to establish where industrial action should take place was called for by Unison at its annual local government conference. National secretary for local government, Heather Wakefield, said it was time to address the ‘plummeting morale' and ‘financial distress' local government workers were experiencing. Local government employers have put forward a pay offer of 2%, which Unison has described as ‘insulting'. Unison wants an increase of 5% or £1,000, whichever is the greater, and to ensure a £6.30 ‘underpin' on the minimum hourly rate. The union also wants an increase in annual leave of one day for all employees, and an increase in basic annual leave entitlement to 25 days a year. ‘We urgently need a fair pay deal which at least keeps pace with living costs and begins to make in-roads against ongoing poverty pay in local councils,' said Ms Wakefield. ‘By pushing for industrial action today, Unison's local government workers are saying enough is enough.'
