Severn Trent workers in ballot on strike

Workers at Severn Trent Water, including a number based in Shrewsbury, are to be balloted for strike action.

The GMB union says it will ballot 5,000 employees over potential strike action after rejecting a two per cent pay increase for 2012.

The union said Severn Trent had declined to reopen talks and it will now ask its central executive council for authority to begin strike action, in order to improve the offer.

Gary Smith, GMB's national secretary for the water industry, said: "This two per cent offer is the lowest in the industry and is well below inflation. It is not acceptable to GMB members."

Severn Trent said that its total reward package was "very competitive".