Dudley Council workers are facing the prospect of strike action as trade union Unison has rejected a proposed 3.3% pay increase from local government employers. Unison plans to ballot its 200,000 local government and school staff members across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland between July 9 and August 6, urging members to vote in favor of industrial action.
Unison General Secretary Andrea Egan emphasized the vital role of council and school staff in supporting vulnerable families, caring for the elderly, fostering children’s development, and providing essential community services. “Staff deserve far more during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis,” Egan stated. “While strikes remain a last resort, workers must be prepared to take action if employers continue to undervalue their dedication with a mere 3.3% pay offer after years of budget cuts.”
Dudley Council employs around 6,000 people, with over 3,000 union members, including approximately 2,343 school staff. Balvinder Heran, Chief Executive of Dudley Council, expressed that the council is unaware of any planned strike action and has ongoing positive dialogue with employees to maintain uninterrupted services for residents.
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Unison highlights that inflation is expected to reach 3.5% by the end of 2026 and that local government workers have lost approximately a quarter of their real-term pay since 2010. The union warns that potential industrial action could impact a range of services including schools, social care, children’s services, waste collection, libraries, and housing.
Andrea Egan added, “Staff are tired of doing more for less. They deserve fair wages and properly funded services to rebuild the communities they serve.”