Local government protests over pay are spreading
Protests have been taking place at locations across the region by local government workers concerned about pay. This marked an escalation in disputes between UNISON and some local authorities over the level of pay rises awarded this year, at a time when inflation is running rampant and staff are worried about making ends meet.
Dozens of staff working for Rother District Council in Kent held a demonstration calling for increased pay on 26 April.
Protest by @RotherUnison outside the Town Hall on poor pay today #ProudToBeInUNISON #UNISON @UNISONSE pic.twitter.com/YQsuLQkQUI
— Kate Marr (@kate_marr) April 26, 2023
They were joined by colleagues from Surrey County Council who demonstrated in Reigate on 2 May with banners making clear they refused to be left behind and accept getting poorer.
Link to radio interview about the Surrey County Council Pay Protest held today outside the council’s offices at Woodhatch, Reigate: https://t.co/huj0kyW16n pic.twitter.com/h5cZ7OErW4
— Surrey County UNISON (@SurreyUNISON) May 2, 2023
Both events gathered interest from local media, with multiple interviews of UNISON members taking place.
https://twitter.com/surreylive/status/1654033126472155136
Surrey and Rother are both on local pay arrangements, unlike the majority of English councils that have their pay negotiated nationally.
UNISON is also in dispute over nationally negotiated (NJC) local government pay and will be balloting members for strike action in order to secure an improved offer.