Council services across Shropshire and Mid Wales could be hit by a summer of strikes after union chiefs embroiled in a pay row threatened industrial action.
Members of Unison could create a “summer of discontent” if they do strike, after they voted by 55 per cent to 45 per cent to take industrial action after rejecting a 2.45 per cent pay offer.
Union bosses representing council workers were today expected to decide what action to recommend to the national strike committee.
The union’s negotiators are expected to call for a two-day strike in mid-July, followed by further stoppages if the deadlock is not broken.
Social workers, housing benefit staff, teaching assistants, dinner ladies, cooks, cleaners, architects, traffic wardens and refuse collectors will join the strike in the biggest show of industrial unrest for years.
Jobcentre, benefit office workers and other civil servants could take action later in the year in separate rows.
Meanwhile, probation officers, Ofsted inspectors, meat and hygiene inspectors and further education staff are also in dispute over pay, highlighting the breadth of anger and simmering unrest across the public sector.
But David Johnson, head of human resources at Telford & Wrekin Council said: “This was a national ballot and the dispute is with the national local government employers.
“We will work closely with Unison to ensure that critical services continue to operate throughout any strike action which is called.”Ê
Richard Jones, Unison representative at Oswestry Borough Council, said it was a difficult time for local authority Unison members across Shropshire.
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