Local Councils

Local councils and local services

Regrouping on council pay

The April 2023 pay round in England and Wales local government is not yet settled. No increase has been paid, but the three unions are failing to coordinate. This makes the case for one workplace one union, as Workers’ Liberty has fought for. Immediately we need to build unity on the ground across all three unions. After a ballot between 23 May and 4 July, Unison, the largest of the three unions, decided to take no action. 75% voted for industrial action to improve an offer of £1,925 (£2,352 for London members), but the ballot fell short of the Tory 50% turnout threshold in the overwhelming...

Unison schools strike in Scotland 26-28 September

Unison members in Scottish schools will strike 26-28 September, despite the GMB and Unite pulling out of what was to be a joint strike by the three unions. 21,000 Unison members working in 24 of Scotland 32 local authorities will strike. GMB members in ten local authorities and Unite members in eleven local authorities had been due to strike. Although the strike is for a pay rise for all council staff, it specifically targets schools and early years centres. Unison members on strike are school cleaners, kitchen staff, admin. workers and support staff. All three unions had rejected an offer by...

Scottish council workers to strike over pay

Glasgow City Council workers are one of the council workforces due to strike on 26-28 September. 21,000 Unison members working in 24 of Scotland's 32 local authorities are due to strike. GMB members will strike in ten local authorities; Unite members in eleven. Ballots in other local authorities had a majority for strikes, but not 50% turnout. GMB members had been due to strike in mid-September, having been balloted earlier, but postponed so as to strike alongside other unions. The demand is a pay rise for all council staff, but action specifically targets schools and early years centres...

Camden strikers: victory!

Update 21/09/2023: The traffic wardens have voted to end their strike after 59 consecutive days, accepting a deal which nets them £15 per hour backdated to April 2023 (an 18.1% raise from the previous wage £12.70), £15.90 next year, and the year after either £16.50 or RPI, whichever is highest. The deal falls short of their original demand of £15.90 this year, but it substantially outstrips inflation this year and is likely to at least track inflation for the duration of the deal. It puts them at least among the best-paid outsourced traffic wardens in the country. So they are right to...

Camden strikers are steadfast

Camden traffic wardens’ indefinite strike, now six weeks old, demands a pay rise from £12.70 per hour to £15.90

Regrouping in local government

Unison union representatives on the local government National Joint Council (through which, with other unions, they negotiate on pay) met on 11 July following the 23 May-4 July industrial action ballot on pay, which fell foul of the Tories’ 2016 legal requirement for a 50% turnout. Only a small number of branches hit the 50% threshold, many schools got over the threshold and some other councils got over 40%. The Unison NJC reps discussed continuing the dispute, but only representatives from the north west supported the idea. Unite is still consulting members, but action over this year’s pay...

Minimum service law passes: demand repeal, prepare defiance!

On 20 July the Tories’ Minimum Service Levels bill passed into law. The government, in collaboration with employers but over their heads if it sees fit, now has the power to formulate “minimum service levels” in rail, health, education services, fire and rescue, border security and nuclear decommissioning. Setting those levels is likely to take some months. Employers can then issue “work notices” compelling workers to work during strikes to provide the minimum service. Unions which organise strikes and do not make “reasonable efforts” to ensure their members comply with work notices could face...

North East mayor: almost half of CLPs refuse to nominate

Of the 22 Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) in the catchment for the new “North-East mayor” to be elected in May 2024, eight have voted to make no nomination for Labour candidate for mayor. Hexham, Wansbeck, Blyth Valley, Blaydon, Newcastle East, Newcastle Central, Easington, and City of Durham have voted that way to protest against the 2 June decision by a panel of Labour’s National Executive to exclude Jamie Driscoll, current Labour North of Tyne mayor, from the longlist. Three CLPs did not meet to consider nominations, and two nominated all the candidates longlisted. Only nine nominated...

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