21 June 2002
The staunch rejection follows claims this week by both the T&G and Unison that a cluster of northern Labour councils are preventing a return to the negotiating table in the long-running dispute.
As the T&G kicked off its campaign for a 'yes' vote in its ballot for industrial action, national organiser Jack Dromey accused Northwest councils of being 'the main barrier to justice on pay'. He said these local authorities had 'resisted moves for a negotiated settlement' and were insisting on imposing a 3% award. 'I find it sad that Labour councils want to fight their employees rather than fight low pay and injustice,' he said.
News of such a divide was rife at Unison's annual local government conference in Bournemouth. Several delegates claimed that southern councils wanted a return to the negotiating table because of recruitment problems but were blocked by northern authorities refusing to budge from 3%.
But the Employers' Organisation rubbished the union's allegations as 'froth and bubble before the ballot'. A spokesman for the EO said there was no truth in the claims.
He did add that there were more tensions between northern authorities and unions 'as some hard bargaining' had gone on. 'The unions are trying to extrapolate from these and claim it as a national problem. The employers are very unified on their offer,' he said.
Unison and the T&G expect members to vote for a national strike in protest at the 3% pay offer. It will be the first such strike in local government for 23 years.
PFjun2002
