THE 500,000 white collar local government members of UNISON have voted "no' to the government's 1.5 per cent pay limit.
This is despite the offer being put out to ballot with no leadership recommendation. The outcome has triggered another ballot on industrial action. Its outcome will be known at the end of September, and if there is a 'yes' vote then action will start on 4 October.
The UNISON ballot result was rapidly followed by the leaking of a letter apparently written in February from then-Environment Secretary Michael Howard to Michael Portillo This accepts a 3.5 per cent limit on any increase in local government spending, which NO cut in Melt their pay freeze! implies big cuts in services.
The letter warns that unless pay is held down the cuts will be enormous.
Whether the leak was deliberate is not known. But it is certain to be used as ammunition by the local government employers.
The argument will be that if they have to spend more on pay, it igger job cuts