Council employers are not much better than controversial Sports Direct retailer Mike Ashley, a trade union chief has complained.
The comments were made by UNISON head of local government, Heather Wakefield, following last week’s decision by the three main council trade unions to settle pay talks with the Local Government Association (LGA).
Ms Wakefield defended UNISON’s negotiating tactics, which included a joint mass walkout in August and a standalone decision to hold out for an still better deal in October, on the basis all three unions signed up to an improved offer from March’s initial employer proposals.