UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea is to visit Ipswich later this week as council and school support staff vote on whether to strike over pay. Christina McAnea will speak at a rally on Friday outside Suffolk County Council headquarters Endeavour House as local government workers call for a pay rise of 2% above inflation. Staff […]
local government
Nearly 25,000 council and school support staff across the East of England will begin voting today on whether to strike over pay, says UNISON. The wage offer made by employers to local government staff is nowhere near what’s needed to meet rising prices during the cost of living crisis, says the union. UNISON had called […]
UNISON is recognising unsung heroes for their contribution to the community
Councils across the east of England face a collective funding gap of nearly £240m in the next financial year forcing them to cut essential services, says a report published today by UNISON. Waste collections, leisure centres, nurseries and other vital services will all be hit according to the findings based on information* from local authorities […]
Hard-up Colchester Council staff should get the same pay rise as everyone else in local government, trade union UNISON says today. The call comes after UNISON members in schools and councils on nationally agreed NJC conditions voted to accept a flat-rate £1,925 backdated to April. But Colchester negotiates pay locally meaning refuse workers, those running […]
A New Year’s blog from regional secretary Tim Roberts
Regional head of local government Sam Leigh guest blogs as our local government pay ballot opens
UNISON will today begin to ballot more than a third of a million council and school staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for strike action over their “inadequate” pay offer. The union is recommending employees – including refuse collectors, teaching assistants and social workers – vote ‘yes’ to strike action. These workers have kept […]
Local government workers in the Eastern region are holding rallies this week to launch a strike ballot against employers’ “insulting” pay offer. Council and schools workers are being urged to vote Yes to action against a 1.75% pay offer – 2.75% for the handful of staff on the very lowest pay band to keep track […]
Thurrock mustn’t be left to wither on the vine, UNISON says today after plans to slash 500 jobs were announced. The Tory-run council is looking to make £34m worth of savings to deal with a covid-related black hole compounded by changes to borrowing rules. UNISON Eastern regional organiser Leon Kilbourn said: “These cuts will be […]
Suffolk County Council workers rallied outside Endeavour House today for a UNISON protest against a new mileage policy that will take money from some of the lowest paid staff. Local Labour councillors and representatives of Ipswich TUC and Unite braved the wind and rain to join the demonstration outside Suffolk County Council HQ. Protesters held […]
Council staff made a direct plea to East of England local authority bosses today to boost funding and pay. Staff from across the region took part in a UNISON video shown to council chiefs attending the virtual East of England Local Government Roadshow. The workers explain that they have been keeping communities safe and clean, […]
Tim Roberts explains why UNISON will keep talking about – and acting on – poor pay in our public services
Councils in the East of England have a funding shortfall of at least £40m between them for this financial year, putting at risk services such as libraries, child protection, care for the elderly, road maintenance and public health programmes, according to new figures released today by UNISON. Worst hit in the region is Bedford Borough […]
Stevenage Borough Council is reportedly on the brink of effectively declaring bankruptcy, according to reports today. The council is considering issuing a section 114 notice, which would mean severe cuts to balance its books, gutting vital local services and putting staff on the dole. UNISON Eastern regional organiser Nalin Cooke warned it would be “disastrous […]