30 May 2008
Ballot papers for industrial action will be sent to almost 1 million union members in local government this week, amid continuing unrest over the government's public sector pay cap.
Members of the Unite and Unison unions are balloting their members for strikes after rejecting a 2.45% pay offer, with an initial two-day strike likely to take place in early July.
The National Union of Teachers also threatened further action, following its one-day strike in April, although this would be delayed until after the summer holidays.
Acting general secretary Christine Blower said: 'The NUT will be discussing with its divisional secretaries the next step in our pay campaign. An option for an autumn ballot will be given consideration, along with lobbying both locally and nationally.'
But 7,000 London members of the University and College Union could be on the picket lines on June 9, if pay talks between employers and six unions representing 250,000 staff fail to produce an increase on a 2.5% pay offer on June 5.
UCU's annual conference was this week set to debate a motion committing the union to 'joint campaigning with other public sector unions to resist a public sector pay freeze or pay limits'.
Doctors' leaders have also entered the fray, calling on ministers to intervene in a row over the withdrawal of free accommodation for first-year medics – a change the British Medical Association says amounts to a £4,800 pay cut.
The BMA accused NHS Employers of refusing to discuss the change.
But NHS Employers director of pay, pensions and employment relations Gill Bellord said the organisation could not negotiate on the issue 'because we've got no mandate to do so from health departments or employers'.
Also in the NHS, a Unison ballot on a three-year pay deal is due to close on June 6.
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