Upcoming council strikes: what do I need to know?

Did you know that council strikes are set to go ahead this month? According to Unite, over 3,000 council members will take part in industrial action.

Walkouts are taking place at 23 local authorities across England and Wales. This number could increase depending on the outcome of upcoming ballots.

While Unite has said strikes will impact “potentially millions” of residents, there are concerns that the move will not capture the public’s attention in a big enough way to motivate change. 

Why are councils striking?

Unite members are striking for a better pay deal after the regulating body for England, Wales and Nothern Ireland refused to re-open talks. 

Peter Hughes, the regional secretary for Unite Wales, described the current pay offer as “a slap in the face [which] would see pay levels further eroded”.

“Our members provide essential services day in, day out, and deserve better,” he added.

Clare Keogh, national officer at Unite, told the LGC: “services have been cut to the absolute bone, and our members have been on the front line of that”.

Ms. Keogh aims to encourage the Local Government Association to adopt a stronger position in its dealings with DLUHC and collaborate with unions to advocate for increased funding for local councils.

Here at Imperium Solutions, we support all local authorities and the hard work their staff do behind the scenes to keep our country up and running. 

If you’re looking for a new challenge within the public sector, get in touch with our recruiters via email today at [email protected].