local government
News and articles about work, policy and workers' struggles in the public and charity sectors. It includes housing, but does not include most nationalised industries like health, transport or security forces.
Scottish council workers plan further strike action
Scotland faces more council strikes after local government employers refused to increase a 2.5% pay offer.
Union members had hoped local council body Cosla would offer a new one year deal taking inflation into account. However, Cosla said increasing the pay offer in the current economic climate would result in service and job cuts. Meanwhile, hundreds of other civil and public servants voted for strike action which could cause serious disruption to the justice system.
Council workers and civil servants strike in Scotland
Tens of thousands of striking council workers disrupted public services across Scotland today while Scottish civil servants also struck for their own pay dispute.
Schools were closed, rubbish went uncollected, ferry services were disrupted, and services like libraries were closed. Union leaders said an estimated 150,000 workers took part in the one-day strike over pay. The pay row is over an offer of 2.5% for each of the next three years, an offer made "derisory" by the rising cost of living.
Wildcat strike in Haringey Council
Benefits and taxation workers in Haringey Council walked out yesterday at the suspension of two shop stewards following the national pay strike last month.
Staff were protesting against the attack on two Unison shop stewards, Sheila Amaneer and Mark Tindley, suspended due to allegations of "intimidation" on the picket line during last month's strike.
Nearly all staff in the Benefits and Local Taxation office struck, and were due to meet today to vote on further official action.
Scottish council workers set strike date
150,000 Scottish council employees in Unison, Unite and the GMB have set a date for their strike action over a sub-inflation pay offer which would see schools shut, rubbish uncollected and other frontline services hit.
They overwhelmingly agreed on Thursday to take strike action on 20th August after the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) refused to improve a pay offer of 2.5 per cent a year for the next three years.
Arnie terminates California state workers
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed an executive order to sack 22,000 state workers and reduce 200,000 to the minimum wage.
California has one of the world's largest economies, but facing a budget deficit of more than $15bn (£7.6bn) Mr Schwarzenegger is seeking to shift the costs onto public sector workers.
Half a million council workers strike over pay
Local government workers across England, Northern Ireland and Wales struck for two days alongside civil servants against sub-inflation pay rises.
More than 500,000 workers were on strike on July 16 and 17, bringing disruption to schools, town halls, refuse collections and libraries throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
"This has been a fantastic response from our members," said UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis. "Local government workers have shown their anger and resentment towards this pay offer.
More workers set to join council strike
Up to 100,000 civil servants could join 600,000 local government workers on strike in July, as 40,000 more council workers in Unite pledge to strike too.
One of the biggest outbreaks of industrial unrest for years will see tens of thousands of job centre workers, coastguards, driving examiners and other Government employees join a strike next month by council employees.
More than half a million local authority workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are staging a two-day walkout on July 16 and 17 after rejecting a 2.45% pay offer.
Local government workers to strike over pay
Local government workers have voted 55% in favour of strike action today, making strikes by over 600,000 workers a near certainty over the summer.
UNISON balloted for strike action after rejecting a 2.45% pay offer. The government's 2% pay increase target for public sector pay has become increasingly stark against inflation - with sharp increases in the cost of fuel and basic necessities internationally.
Catalyst #17
Solidarity Federation freesheet, produced June 08
Council workers to vote on action
UNISON members in local government in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will vote on strike action to begin in July, while teachers discuss co-ordinated action.
UNISON members were given the green light for a ballot on industrial action after rejecting the pay offer from employers.
The offer is below the current inflation rate of 4.2% and less that the increase in average earnings across the economy.
