Unions suspend strike

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Unison and Unite have suspended their strike action over local government pay pending talks with employers.

Bosses revealed last night that discussions with Local Government Employers (LGE) had resulted in "an understanding" that talks could go ahead. A timetable is expected to be announced soon.

A statement from Unison, the largest force in local government, said its national joint committee had decided not to set a new strike date in the light of the proposed talks.

On Wednesday (16 July 2008) and Thursday last week more than 500,000 staff at councils across England, Wales and Northern Ireland joined last week's strike over LGE's 2.45% pay offer, worth 3.3% for the lowest paid.

'Vital dispute resolved'

Heather Wakefield, Unison's head of local government, said it was vital that the dispute was resolved as soon as possible.

"Our members cannot afford to be the poor relations of the public sector," she said. "If the employers are serious about making local government an employer of choice they must realise they have some catching up to do.

"Over the summer we will continue our campaign to win the hearts and minds of government, the employers, and the public to the justice of our case."

Scotland ballot

Unison members in Scotland are currently being balloted over strike action on their annual pay offer.

The consultation closes at the end of this month and could see strike action within weeks.