Leeds City Council maintenance staff call strike over pay
Leeds City Council maintenance staff call strike over pay
Council tenants are set to face delayed home repairs during strike action by maintenance workers.
Around 270 Leeds City Council staff are set to take industrial action in a national dispute over pay and conditions.
Unite, the UK’s biggest trade union, said the action was called in response to a “paltry” 3.2 per cent pay offer from local government employers.
The union also claims the craftworkers, who mainly carry out housing repairs and maintenance, have been facing attacks on their working conditions.
Strikes are planned on June 17, 18, 23 and 24 at Bristol, Southwark, Stoke-on-Trent, Newham, Leeds and Mid Suffolk councils.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Local government workers have had enough.
“Years of poor pay increases and freezes has undermined their earnings and is driving living standards down.
“Unite backs its members 100 per cent and that commitment totally applies to our members in local government.”
Unite said it was calling for a review of local government pay and claimed the employers had failed to negotiate.
The union said the dispute could still be resolved if the employers made an improved offer.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “We are aware that there is a planned strike by craftworker Unite members.
“This relates to a national pay dispute affecting a number of local authorities.”
The Local Government Association, which represents councils, has been asked to comment.