UNISON
I know it ’ s a difficult decision to vote to take action and be prepared to lose a day ’ s pay , but we ’ ve won through strike action before in other public services , and I have every confidence we can do it again .”
UNISON
Being a BAOT member means you also belong to UNISON and can access support and advice on workplace issues at any time
I know it ’ s a difficult decision to vote to take action and be prepared to lose a day ’ s pay , but we ’ ve won through strike action before in other public services , and I have every confidence we can do it again .”
thing you can do right now . Look out for your red envelope and as soon as you receive your ballot paper , please vote and post it back straight away . If we don ’ t have at least 50 % of members voting , we cannot take action .
Putting the case to you
UNISON General Secretary Christina McAnea has a clear message for members in local government considering voting for strike action , and voting to stop the managed decline of local government .
‘ Pay in councils and schools has fallen by 25 % in real terms since 2010 . And the employer ’ s belowinflation pay offer for 2023 , goes nowhere near to making up for it , or to dealing with the rising cost of living ,’ she says .
‘ In fact , it represents another attempt at managed decline of the pay and standards in local government .
‘ Workers are dedicated to supporting their communities , but they ’ re overworked and undervalued . For school support staff , half are actively looking for better paid work , many are in debt , and it ’ s common for people to work second or third jobs to make ends meet .
‘ Low pay is a problem for employers too – they simply cannot recruit the staff they need , or hold onto them , when there are better paid and less stressful jobs elsewhere . Occupational therapy staff are keenly aware of these pressures being put on services due to short staffing .
‘ But giving a decent pay rise is affordable for the government . Tax cuts for big businesses and huge profits for gas and oil companies could be dealt with to raise money for local government pay . That would be a political choice that puts communities and workers first – a choice the current government has refused to make over the past 13 years .
‘ I know it ’ s a difficult decision to vote to take action and be prepared to lose a day ’ s pay , but we ’ ve won through strike action before in other public services , and I have every confidence we can do it again .’
If you haven ’ t received your ballot paper , please contact our dedicated helpline on tel 0800 0 857 857 . It is open until midday 28 June . If you have lost your ballot paper and need a replacement , you can request a new one until midday 28 June .
If your colleagues aren ’ t members of UNISON already , encourage them to join . If they join by 21 June , they are eligible to vote in the ballot . They can join online and it only takes five minutes .
Protecting you at work
We have a pay calculator available to help you understand the local government pay offer – anyone can use it and it is available here : https :// unisonpaycalculator . co . uk /.
For help and advice at work – or to find out more about UNISON services – please contact your local BAOT / UNISON rep , branch https :// branches . unison . org . uk / or go to www . unison . org . uk / get-help /.
If you need help at work 0800 0857 857 or www . unison . org . uk
June 2023 OTnews 13