The strikers \u2013 who predominantly undertake local authority housing maintenance and repair work \u2013 are employed at Bristol, Southwark, Stoke-on-Trent, Newham, Leeds and Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils.<\/p>\n
The workers will strike on 17,18, 23 and 24 June following the latest local government pay offer to Red Book workers.<\/p>\n
Employers offered a 3.2% increase linked it to a series of changes to conditions.<\/p>\n
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:\u00a0\u201cLocal government workers have had enough. Years of poor pay increases and freezes has undermined their earnings and is driving living standards down.\u00a0The attacks on their national agreement, designed to make them even poorer in the future is totally unacceptable.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnite\u00a0backs its members 100 per cent and that commitment totally applies to our members in local government.\u201d<\/p>\n
The strike action is of a targeted nature and a greater number of local authorities could join the dispute in the future.<\/p>\n
Unite national officer Jason Poulter said:\u00a0\u201cThe local government employers have brought this dispute on themselves in the high handed and dismissive way they have treated proposed peace talks. Their contempt for highly skilled dedicated craftworkers has been demonstrated by their refusal to negotiate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption to the lives of council tenants needing repairs and maintenance work. Even at this late stage the dispute can be resolved by the employers entering negotiations with realistic proposals to resolve this dispute.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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