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Jan 2022

Last Updated: 27/01/2022

Politics

Harrogate council strike action averted after national ballot

by Calvin Robinson

| 27 Jan, 2022

Trade union Unison balloted members over whether or not to take industrial action after members rejected a 1.75% pay increase last year but only 14.5% of Unison members turned out to vote.

Harrogate Borough Council offices at Knapping Mount.

The prospect of Harrogate Borough Council staff going on strike over pay has been removed after a national ballot.

Trade union Unison balloted members over whether or not to take industrial action after members rejected a 1.75% pay increase last year.

The offer followed a national consultation from the Local Government Association over a pay increase.

Of 62% of Unison members in the Harrogate district, 74% voted to refuse the pay offer.

However, a national ballot held last month on whether to take strike action over the offer saw just 14.5% of Unison members turn out to vote.

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Under government trade union laws, strike action cannot legally progress unless there is at least a 50% turnout for the ballot and the majority votes to strike. Because the national turnout was just 14.5%, the strike will not therefore take place.

David Houlgate, secretary of the Harrogate branch of Unison, said the proposed 1.75% pay offer would only increase pressure on frontline council services.

He said:

“While an overwhelming majority of those who voted were prepared to show their anger at the employers’ derisory 1.75% pay offer by taking strike action, they are prevented from doing so because the number of votes cast in the ballot is less than 50% of the number entitled to vote in the ballot.

“With inflation predicted to hit 6% this year, this amounts to another real terms pay cut for council workers across the country and will increase the pressure on frontline services, already struggling with a huge number of vacancies and losing employees at an alarming rate.”

Council staff 'deeply unhappy' over pay

Unison and other trade unions have said they will now look towards next year’s pay offer.

Mike Short, head of local government at Unison, said:

“The results show there’s deep unhappiness among council and education staff about a pay offer so far below the spiralling cost of living.

“There’s a real danger local authorities and schools will now lose staff to employers willing and able to grant above-inflation wage rises. Leading supermarkets, hospitality outlets and other private sector firms have either made, or are considering, pay increases allowing workers to keep on top of rocketing bills.

“Unison will consider its next steps and liaise with other unions when their ballots are complete.”

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Harrogate council strike action averted after national ballot

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