A DECISION by council workers to vote for strike action underlines their deep concerns over pay, says a local union boss.

The comments from Unison Bury branch secretary Steve Morton came after the union’s local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland voted for a programme of sustained strike action over a 2.45 per cent pay offer.

According to Unison, almost 250,000 members earn less than £6.50 an hour. Seventy five per cent are women. The unions’ pay claim was for six per cent or 50p an hour, whichever was the greater.

Nearly 600,000 workers were balloted and they included social workers, housing benefit workers, rent collectors, binmen, dinner ladies, teaching assistants, cooks, cleaners, architects, surveyors.

Reports suggest that two days of industrial action could take place next month.

Mr Morton said: “This decision by the membership underlines the deep concerns that our members have been expressing to us about the constant downward pressure on the value of local government wages.

“Both nationally and locally the employers are refusing to acknowledge the gap in real terms between the rise in the day-to-day costs of living and the takehome pay of our members.

“Industrial action is always the last resort in any pay negotiation but feedback from our members locally has been that enough is enough and they cannot accept yet another below inflation rise.”

Unison general secretary, Dave Prentis, said: “This is a solid vote for action and a clear message to the local government employers that our members are willing to fight for a decent pay rise.

“They are fed up and angry that they are expected to accept pay cut after pay cut, while bread and butter prices go through the roof.”