Local Government Strike 10 July

Our colleagues in Local Government will be taking industrial action on 10th July - please find ways of supporting them, here's why:

"We local government workers empty the bins, clean the schools, educate and care for children, look after the elderly, and vulnerable, conduct marriages and civil partnerships, care for parks, and check the safety of the food on your table. We do it all despite savage cuts to vital services. Almost half a million of our jobs have gone. Those of us left are doing far more for far less. We have worked hard to get employers to negotiate a deal, but the employers won’t even talk to us about a better offer, or join us for independent arbitration Most UNISON members are low-paid, part-time women workers, struggling to pay their household bills. Losing pay for strike action is not something they do lightly. Our members are not asking for the 14% pay increase company bosses and bankers are getting. Or the 11% MPs will see. They are just asking for a rise of at least £1 an hour. That would mean almost half a million council and school support workers currently earning below the Living Wage of £7.65 an hour could come off in-work benefits."

There will be a joint Union Rally in the Civic Centre car park from 1p.m on Thursday - please go along if you are free. Pleae support your colleagues when you hear them being condemned for taking action, remember what they do for our community and think about where money from the 'recovery' should be going. This branch has sent a message of support to our colleagues which will be read at the rally.