Angie Waller, Kirklees local government Unison, personal capacity
In what can only be described as derisory and an insult, public sector workers have once again been offered the crumbs off the table from the Local Government Association, in the form of a one-year offer of a 3.3% pay increase. Nothing was offered on the non-pay elements of the unions’ claim, or on the demand for £15-an-hour minimum.
This year’s pay claim for local government workers is for an increase of at least £3,000 or 10% ( whichever is the greater) on every pay point. A minimum pay rate of £15 an hour for all staff, a two-hour reduction in the working week, and an increase of one day annual leave. This claim is based on a one-year settlement.
Workers are understandably angry over the failure of their pay to keep up with the cost of living, year after year.
And year after year Unison, the biggest local government union, has failed to mount a serious pay campaign since the pay freeze of 2009. There has been a lack of lead to raise the consciousness of members that collective action could win on pay.
Last year the union’s lack of fight was down to the newly elected right-wing National Executive Council (NEC) and previous general secretary Christina McAnea being too willing to appease the Labour government.
The NJC (the body through which the local government unions negotiate with the employer) meets again in early April, and proposals on how to respond to the offer will be put forward.
Unison leadership
In the past, Unison has run a consultative ballot to gauge the mood on pay. However, previously, consultative ballots have returned votes to reject the pay offer but with less than a 50% turnout, which has meant with the current anti-trade union laws – still kept in place by Keir Starmer’s anti-worker government – no further action has been taken by the union, despite some stronger branches achieving the threshold.
But now members have rejected the leadership’s Starmer-supporting approach and elected a new general secretary, Angela Egan. Members will now expect a full campaign and positive call for action from the leadership of Unison, to inspire thousands of council workers to strike for an above-inflation pay rise.
As well as addressing the cost-of-living crisis and the energy and fuel crisis, this will expose where the real wealth lies in society. With the failure of the Labour government to address the low pay of the public sector as a whole it will also boost the debate about Unison using its political funds to support candidates from other parties.
Unison’s NJC committee reps should be meeting with the other local government unions to reject the 3.3% offer and discuss plans for a coordinated national disaggregated strike ballot, supported by a serious campaign for a ‘Yes to strike’ vote, and showing a real determination to fight.
