This week, 150,000 school support staff are being asked to vote yes to strike action over pay. Mike Short explains why
UNISON has launched a ballot of more than 360,000 local government workers in England and Wales, asking them if they’re prepared to take strike action over their pay.
The six-week ballot closes on July 4 and among those being balloted are 150,000 school support staff.
The local government employers have offered a pay increase of £1,925 for 2023. While that might seem tempting at first glance, food prices, energy bills and other everyday costs are rising faster than wages and the offer is well below inflation, wherever you are on the pay scale.
And it’s also the “full-time equivalent” pay rise – so those on term-time-only contracts and those who are part-time would get a smaller amount.
