Trade union Unison has warned it will consider taking industrial action after its members rejected the two-year pay offer.
Unison’s local government pay committee said it had decided to keep the option of industrial action on the table after it rejected the ‘final’ employers’ offer of a 1% rise this year and a further 1% increase next year.
A Unison spokeswoman told The MJ: ‘Our local government pay committee met and has decided to continue to pursue the option of taking industrial action later this year.’
However, leaders of GMB told their members they did not think the offer would be improved.
GMB national officer Justin Bowden said: ‘Our position remains that our members voted in a full postal ballot to every members’ home address by nine to one to accept the employers’ two-year pay offer.’
An employers’ side spokesman for the Local Government Association said: 'We're disappointed about the decision and we urge them to rethink so that our hardworking staff get the pay rise they deserve.'
