Frequently asked questions - bulletin #7

National Pay Dispute 2008 - #7 – 14 July

Frequently Asked Questions

This bulletin has been produced to provide responses to frequently asked questions about industrial action.

Why has UNISON called strike action on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 July 2007?

UNISON has called for strike action because a majority of UNISON members voted in favour of action in an official strike ballot in connection with the national pay dispute.

Why did UNISON members vote for strike action?

In opposition to the employers’ final offer of a pay increase of only 2.45%. This did not meet the joint trade union side claim (which was for 6%) and is also well below the current rate of price inflation (which is 4.4%). Accepting a pay rise below the rate of inflation means accepting a pay cut in real terms.

Has UNISON tried to settle the dispute without strike action?

After the ballot result, UNISON has pressed the employers’ to reopen negotiations. The employers have refused to respond at this stage.

What are the employers doing?

UNISON believes that the employers are waiting to see how well supported the strike action on 16 and 17 July is before deciding whether to make an improved pay offer.

What are the other trade unions doing?

UNITE (previously the TGWU) has called its 60,000 members in local government out on strike alongside 600,000 UNISON members.

The GMB have not balloted for strike action. However, GMB national official Brian Strutton has said that the GMB are “keen to support our UNISON colleagues in any way we can” and local GMB Branch Secretary Bill Modlock has urged GMB shop stewards to support UNISON picket lines.

Can local government employers afford to pay more?

Non-schools reserves total £11,605 billion – their highest-ever level. Local authorities in England alone are reporting cashable gains of £763 million by the end of the 2007/08 financial year.
At the same time, council tax has fallen in real terms by 0.3% this year – for the first time since 1994.

The short answer is “yes”. The local government employers can afford to make an improved pay offer.

Will strike action in local government lead to an improved pay offer?

In 1989 and 2002 national strike action by local government workers led to improved pay offers from the national employers.

On both occasions the employers improved upon what they had previously said was a “final” offer in response to national strike action.

What does Lambeth Council say about this strike?

The Council has made clear that it does not require staff to cross picket lines to come to work, and does not expect managers to encourage strike breaking.

Will strike action break my continuity of service?

No. By law strike action does not break your continuity of employment.

What happens if I go on strike?

You will be docked one fifth of your weekly pay for each day of strike action.

When an agreement is reached on a pay increase, this will be backdated to 1 April. The backdated element of any eventual settlement will amount to more than two days’ pay even on the basis of the employers’ current offer.

What about my pension?

Every day of strike action reduces your pensionable service by one day. This has a negligible impact unless you are in your last year of service in which case it has a very small impact. (Anyone in their last year of service should contact the branch for further advice).

Of course any increase in pay obtained following strike action will also increase your final salary and therefore your pension.

Can I claim hardship payments?

In cases of exceptional hardship, the branch will make such payments as are possible from a fund established for this purpose. Further details will be available on the picket lines or from shop stewards on Tuesday 15 July.

What about members of other unions, other employees and agency workers?

Anyone who respects a picket line will be treated by the employer in the same way as striking UNISON members. No other action will be taken by the employer.