South Tyneside Council workers to be balloted for strike action after turning down 3.3% pay rise
Workers at South Tyneside Council will be balloted for strike action this summer.
Workers at South Tyneside Council will be balloted after rejecting a nationwide pay offer.
Announced by Unite the Union, workers across 22 different local authorities will have their say on whether to take to picket lines.
They have turned down a pay offer of 3.3% from the national employers, who set council workers pay, as they believe this fails to address years of below inflation pay offers and pay freezes.
Unite claims the pay offer was made without any negotiations with the union.
Around 80 workers within South Tyneside Council are expected to get balloted according to Unite.
Workers being balloted work in various council roles including waste and bin collections, street cleaners, street lighting, teaching assistants and home care staff.
Eight months of bin strikes caused havoc to local residents across the borough before the dispute was resolved in July 2024.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Council workers are struggling to keep their heads above water after over a decade of pathetic pay deals. Employers are again trying to cut the real terms pay of workers instead of investing in our members, who do vital jobs in our communities.
“Unite will not stand by and allow our members to have another paltry pay deal inflicted on them. They have our full backing in their fight for fair pay.”
More local authorities could join the dispute at a later date, although South Tyneside is currently the only local authority across the North East to see ballots confirmed.
The ballot opens on Thursday, July 16 and closes on Monday, August 17.
A South Tyneside Council spokesperson said: "Local government pay is negotiated nationally between trade unions and employers through the National Joint Council (NJC) process.
“We are aware that Unite has announced a ballot of some of its members regarding the current national pay offer.
“No industrial action has been announced and it would be inappropriate to speculate on the outcome of the ballot process.
“South Tyneside Council values the important contribution made by all of its employees and will continue to work constructively with our recognised trade unions while maintaining services for residents."