Council urges GMB to reconsider strike action

The GMB trade union has confirmed that a small number of workers at Blaby District Council have voted to take part in strike action over pay.

The timing of any proposed strike action has yet to be announced.

GMB are demanding a significant pay rise for employees at Blaby District Council delivering refuse, recycling, parks and open spaces and district cleansing services because of the increase in cost of living.

The Council has rejected the rise, principally because pay awards to reflect the cost of living are dealt with at a national level, and although the national offer is still to be agreed, the pay rise being sought by the GMB would be in addition to the £1,925 already offered nationally.

Julia Smith, the Council’s Chief Executive said: "We are extremely disappointed that a small number of our staff have voted to take strike action. We value our staff but as a local authority we simply cannot afford these pay increases on top of the national increase due to the financial challenges that the local authority is facing.

"If the national pay offer of £1,925 is accepted for 2023/24, during the last two years pay for employees delivering these services will have increased, depending on their pay grade, by between 14.6% and 20%.

"We would strongly urge GMB to continue meaningful discussions so that we can explain what is achievable and GMB can fully inform their members. Any locally negotiated settlement would be a full Council decision and would have to be taken in the context of the Council’s finances and its impact on services. We can only hope they will reconsider their proposed action.

"We want to reassure residents that we are putting arrangements in place to minimise the impact of any strike action, should GMB go ahead and announce dates."