77% of UNISON members in Solihull who voted backed strike action in the recent industrial action ballot. This was in response to a national employers’ pay offer of a flat £1,290 – much less than the flat £1,925 offered in the previous two years. 

UNISON had originally submitted a 10% pay claim for 2024. The vote was carried out among members at Solihull Council, Solihull Community Housing, Town Councils and Academies  across the Borough.

Unfortunately, the turnout was less than 50% overall so the union was unable to go ahead with the strike action. This requirement was imposed by the previous Government in 2015 as a deliberate way of suppressing the rights of trade unionists to go on strike.

David Williams, Branch Secretary has said, “Nobody wants to go on strike but this is the only way to get the employer to give us the pay we deserve. If we never go on strike the employers can ignore our demands for better pay and conditions.”

Since 2010, pay in local government has not kept pace with inflation, meaning we are all working harder for less money in real terms. In the last year the junior doctors have gone on strike several times and the end result has been that the government has accepted their argument that their pay is too low. This shows that it pays to stand up and be counted.

UNISON nationally has now accepted the employers’ pay offer and we can expect the back pay to be paid us in our December salaries. For those working full-time that will be a lump sum of £967.50 before tax. In subsequent months, full-time wages will be increased by £107.50 a month. 

Many members have asked why it takes so long every year to agree our pay. Part of the reason is that the employers drag their feet. UNISON wants to end this nonsense so that we get next year’s pay agreed before April 2025. 

Hopefully, the new Employment Rights Bill will allow us to carry out our votes electronically and not via paper ballots. This should speed matters up a lot and increase turnout.