Members of Unison who work for North Yorkshire Council have been asked to back strike action after the local government union said the latest pay offer amounts to “yet another pay cut” in real terms.
Unison is asking for a pay rise of 2% above the retail price index (RPI) for 2023 which would result in an increase of 12.7% per employee.
However, the the National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services, which determines pay for council workers, has offered a flat rate increase of £1,925.
RPI is one of the two key measures for inflation, which the Office for National Statistics said this week was at 8.7% in the year to April. This was lower than in March when it was 10.1% but above the 8.2% figure some economists had expected.
David Houlgate, Unison branch secretary for Harrogate, said that over the last 12 years council staff have lost 25% from their pay when measured against the RPI.
Unison, which also represents school staff in North Yorkshire, closes the ballot on strike action on July 4.
Mr Houlgate said:
“Unison has been campaigning for a decent pay rise for council and school workers. We called for a pay increase of inflation plus 2% – based on the Treasury’s annual forecast for RPI for 2023, this would amount to approximately 12.7%.
“However, the local government employers have responded with an offer of a flat rate increase of £1,925, with less for part-time and term-time workers, which when compared to the rate of inflation amounts to yet another pay cut.
“This simply is not good enough when public service workers are relying on food banks and struggling to afford heating. Furthermore, poor pay is a major factor in the recruitment and retention issues that impact on these vital public services.
“So we are asking members to vote for strike action. This is not something we do lightly or, for that matter, often and it’s always our last resort, but after years of declining pay, the feeling is enough is enough.”
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Harrogate council strike action averted after national ballot
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.”
