Unison warns it may ballot more council workers over strike action

Breaking News: Unison Warns It May Ballot More Council Workers Over Strike Action

Date: March 15, 2023

The UK’s public sector union, Unison, has issued a strong warning that it may trigger strike ballots among thousands more council workers in the UK in response to the lack of progress in pay and pensions negotiations.

According to Unison’s General Secretary, Christina McAnea, the union is "inundated with complaints about working conditions, pay and treatment of staff" in the council sector. In response, Unison plans to take "firm but respectful" action to challenge these issues.

"We cannot keep asking our members to absorb cuts and austerity," said McAnea. "If employers refuse to address our concerns, we may need to take more significant industrial action, including calling a ballot for strike action, to defend our members’ rights and interests."

Thousands of Council Workers Threatened with Strike

This latest warning comes amidst concerns over the increasing shortage of social care workers in England. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned that this could lead to a devastating collapse of the social care system, putting vulnerable citizens at risk.

Unison is already in dispute with local authorities over pay and pension reform, with a deadline of March 30 set for a potential industrial action. If the two parties fail to reach a agreement, Unison members in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland could go on strike for the first time in three years.

Key Council Worker Concerns

• Low pay: Council workers face some of the lowest paid jobs in the country, with many struggling to make ends meet.
• Unsustainable workload: Heavy caseloads and prolonged absence rates are taking a toll on the mental health of council workers.
• Lack of training: The continued failure to provide necessary training and support is further straining the workforce.
• Pension reform: Government changes to pension schemes threaten to erode the future income security of council workers.

Reactions

Shadow Local Government Minister, Liam Byrne, has spoken out in support of council workers, saying: "Ministers must take heed of the warning signs from Unison and engage seriously with council workers to find solutions to these pressing concerns. Any further delay risks precipitating a crisis that would harm vulnerable citizens across the country."

FAQs

Q: Which councils are affected by this strike action?
A: A range of councils in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Q: What are the specific concerns of council workers?
A: Low pay, unsustainable workload, lack of training, and pension reform.

Q: Is strike action imminent?
A: A deadline of March 30 has been set, and if no agreement is reached, strike action is a possibility.

Q: How will this impact social care services?
A: A strike could worsen the existing shortage of social care workers, further exacerbating the crisis and putting vulnerable citizens at risk.

Related Articles:

1. ‘Staff Shortages Threaten Council Services’ – Warnings Over Social Care Crises (February 15, 2023)
2. Strike Alert: Unison Accuses Government of ‘Gimmicks’ Over Pensions Reform (March 10, 2023)

SEO Keywords: Unison, Council workers, Strike action, Public sector union, Local authorities, Pay and pension reform, Social care shortages, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

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