UNITE senior local government representatives from across the UK are convening in Wales to plan a winter of action against low pay.
Strike action at both Wrexham and Cardiff councils will continue uninterrupted for a further six week period, prolonging the strike action until the end of November.
This morning Unite union representatives from across the UK joined striking workers from Cardiff council on the picket lines in a show of solidarity.
So far a total 23 councils across the UK have either announced strike dates or are preparing to do so. Activists from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are meeting in Cardiff today and on Friday to plan a winter campaign of action against low pay.
Workers at Newham and Tower Hamlets councils in London have already secured pay rises of £750. Workers in Warrington, Southwark and Haringey are on strike while workers in Wigan and Coventry are preparing for strike action.
Unite local government activists are determined to tackle poverty pay rates. Unite members have previously overwhelmingly rejected the local authority employers’ pay offer of just £1,925, a real terms pay cut for workers.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The council leaders are wrongly claiming they can’t negotiate locally. It’s complete nonsense and the local government employers know it. Unite has already successfully negotiated pay rises for workers in Tower Hamlets and Newham in London. It’s time for other councils to listen and learn.”
