A nationally-coordinated wave of industrial action over this year’s pay claim looks increasingly unlikely as the outcome of trade union ballots emerged.
The MJ understands that the GMB has not proceeded to a formal strike ballot while Unison failed to receive enough votes for national strike action in its poll on the 1.75% pay offer.
Ballot results from Unite, which are not due until later this month, will be collated for each council, which means that strike action could still be taken at each individual local authority where members vote in favour and a turnout of at least 50% is secured.
The Association of Local Authority Chief Executives (ALACE) last week ‘conceded reluctantly’ to the offer of a 1.5% increase for its members but called the pay settlement ‘divisive and unfair’.
ALACE chair Tracey Lee said: ‘Employers have valued the contribution of the most senior staff in local government less highly than that of other staff.’
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