The offer of 3.3% on all pay points was rejected by all 3 trade unions.
Local government pay is worth 26% less in real terms than in 2010 and over ½ million jobs have been cut. There is now a recruitment and retention problem in many job roles.
Although the RPI inflation rate has fallen, petrol and energy prices have already increased, with food prices also expected to soar following Trump and Israel’s illegal war on Iran and Lebanon.
UNISON’s national NJC committee met and decided to ballot members firstly in employers where we believe there is a chance of beating the ballot thresholds based on last year’s voting and where we have more than 20+ members. This is to try and help the union focus on beating ballot thresholds in more employers.
This means UNISON members working for Sandwell MBC (including Sandwell MBC maintained schools), Sandwell Children’s Trust and Kore – Sandwell Leisure Trust will receive ballot papers on whether to vote YES for industrial action to try and secure a better offer or vote NO and thereby accept the offer.
Other members covered by NJC may receive ballot papers later, if the first employers balloted secure successful mandates for action.
The ballot will take place between 9 July and 6 August. Look out for your ballot papers arriving at your home between those dates. Importantly, please use your vote and post the voting paper back as soon as possible.