Strike action by over a thousand local government craftworkers is escalating, amid a dispute around pay and attacks on conditions.

The Unite members undertake council housing repair and maintenance work and are employed at Bristol, Southwark, Stoke-on-Trent, Newham, Leeds and Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils.

The strike action is of a targeted nature and more local authorities could join the dispute in the future.

Workers involved in the dispute have rejected the 2025 local government pay offer to Red Book workers (local government craftworkers) from the national employers of a 3.2 per cent increase, which they do not believe goes far enough to address over a decade of below inflation pay rises and pay freezes.

This was imposed without any negotiations.

Craftworkers will now walk out on Monday (6 July) and Wednesday (8 July).

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Local government craftworkers have been undervalued with paltry pay increases for far too long.

"These workers deserve far better and Unite is fully behind them as they escalate strike action."

The dispute is also about attacks on the national agreement. These include the removal of apprentices from the agreement and a move to job evaluation, something that would be financially detrimental to craftworkers and which would fail to recognise their skills and abilities.

Craftworkers have already walked out on 17,18, 23 and 24 June. The previous round of strikes led to serious delays to housing maintenance and repair work.

Unite national officer for construction Jason Poulter said: "As the employers are still treating these skilled workers with contempt by refusing to negotiate, our members have been left with no choice to take further action. They are standing strong in their fight for a better deal on pay and to protect their conditions.

"This dispute can be resolved, but it relies on the LGA and National Employers doing their jobs and coming back to the table for meaningful discussions."

Unite has now launched an action calling on supporters to email prominent members of the LGA negotiation team to meet with Unite and its sister unions in order to resolve the dispute.

ENDS

Notes to editors

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