Strike action | LocalGov

Trade union law ‘nullifies’ right to strike, court rules

18/04/2024

UNISON has welcomed a landmark Supreme Court ruling that found UK trade union law ‘encourages and legitimises unfair and unreasonable conduct’ by employers.

Brum workers vote for ‘major escalation’ of equal pay dispute

05/03/2024

Workers at Birmingham City Council have voted to strike in what the union GMB describes as a ‘major escalation’ in the campaign to end the equal pay crisis.

Rayner floats three-year pay deal

14/02/2024

An incoming Labour Government could throw its weight behind a longer-term pay deal for the sector to avoid the embarrassment of strikes, well-placed sources have suggested.

Fitness instructors flex muscles in pay dispute

25/01/2024

Council-employed yoga, aerobics and Pilates instructors in Colchester are voting on strike action after nearly a decade without a pay rise, says Unison.

Brum workers consider strike over equal pay delays

12/12/2023

Thousands of workers at Birmingham City Council will today start a ballot for strike action in response to equal pay claim delays.

Agreement ends long-running bin strike

11/12/2023

An agreement between Warrington Borough Council and the trade union Unite has put an end to refuse workers’ strikes.

Local authority leaders criticise minimum service levels

11/12/2023

'Unfair’ and ‘undemocratic’ minimum service levels will lead to ‘more frequent and longer strikes’, according to mayors and council leaders from across UK.

Council denied injunction to stop bin strikes

04/12/2023

Warrington Borough Council has lost a High Court bid to stop its refuse workers going out on strike.

Bus firm 'must roll up sleeves' to resolve strike

09/11/2023

A North East transport boss has slammed a bus company for its response to a long-running industrial dispute, which he said is causing real harm to people across the region and damaging its bus network.

New offer in pay dispute

03/11/2023

More money has been offered in the hope of averting strike action by Scottish Unison members.

Council chiefs to receive 3.5% pay increase

02/11/2023

Local authority chief executives will receive a 3.5% salary increase backdated to the beginning of April after agreement was reached on this year’s pay award.

School staff strike amid pay dispute

01/11/2023

Schools in parts of Scotland were closed on Wednesday as non-teaching staff went on strike in an ongoing dispute over local government pay.

Haringey housing staff to strike

10/10/2023

Housing repair workers employed by Haringey Council will strike this winter in a dispute over pay.

Coventry refuse workers to vote on industrial action

04/10/2023

The trade union Unite has notified Coventry City Council that it will ballot 55 refuse workers for strike action and action short of a strike.

EXCLUSIVE: Unions delay next steps discussion

27/09/2023

Trade unions have agreed to reconvene to discuss their next steps on the ongoing pay dispute within days of GMB’s strike ballots closing, The MJ understands.

Unite and council reach deal to end waste strike

27/09/2023

Waste service workers and street cleaners return to work today after negotiations between Tower Hamlets Council and the trade union Unite put an end to industrial action.

Nottinghamshire waste staff to strike

15/09/2023

The GMB union has announced a week-long strike at waste recycling plants in Nottinghamshire.

Union vows to oppose controversial crackdown

12/09/2023

Local government’s largest trade union has warned any attempt to impose a controversial crackdown will be met with strong opposition.

School staff at 10 Scottish councils to strike

18/08/2023

Local authority employees in schools and early years provisions across Scotland will strike for two days next month, GMB Scotland has announced.

Thousands of education workers vote to strike in Scotland

07/08/2023

Thousands of workers in education and early years services across 10 local authority areas in Scotland have voted to go on strike.

Council staff at Newry, Mourne and Down commence industrial action

17/07/2023

Staff at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, one of Northern Ireland’s largest local authorities, commenced industrial action today (17 July).

Harlow DC reaches pay deal with 300 housing staff

12/07/2023

Over 300 staff responsible for Harlow District Council’s housing stock have ended strike action after a pay deal was reached.

Unite in summer strike warning

02/06/2023

Trade union Unite has warned summer strike action will hit key events after talks with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) collapsed.

More than 360,000 frontline workers vote on pay strike

23/05/2023

More than a third of a million council and school support staff in England and Wales have started voting on a possible strike over pay.

Tower Bridge could close due to pay strike

19/05/2023

Several major London tourist attractions could be forced to close after members of the GMB union voted to strike.

Unions move closer to summer strike action

03/05/2023

Unite members working for councils have rejected a pay offer from local government employers and the union will now ballot on strike action.

Council accused of ‘ripping workers off’

21/04/2023

Strikes by more than 300 low paid staff at Harlow council will continue into next month because the council is ‘ripping workers off’, union says.

South Gloucestershire social workers announce pay strike

05/04/2023

South Gloucestershire Council said it was committed to engaging with Unison after the union announced a strike by social workers and occupational therapists.

More than 300 Dundee council workers begin strike

04/04/2023

A strike by more than 300 construction workers at Dundee City Council is going ahead.

Dundee workers to strike over outsourcing plan

21/03/2023

More than 300 Dundee City Council workers have voted to strike as they fight plans to outsource services.

Social care regulator staff vote for strike action

07/03/2023

Staff at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have voted to take strike action over pay, their union has announced.

Warning council staff could strike again within weeks

24/10/2022

Local government workers in Scotland could be back on strike within weeks, trade unions have warned.

Council ‘disppointed’ by continuing strikes

05/10/2022

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has said it is ‘disappointed’ that strike action is going ahead while union members consider a new pay offer.

Newham bin workers to restart strike

15/09/2022

Bin workers in Newham are set to go on strike for two weeks starting on Tuesday, Unite the Union has announced.

'Fierce resistance' to threatened strike clampdown

06/09/2022

Any attempt by new Prime Minister Liz Truss to outlaw strikes will be met with ‘fierce resistance,’ trade union Unite has warned.

Scottish council workers consider 7.5% pay offer

05/09/2022

Strikes that would have affected schools and waste services across a number of council areas in Scotland have been suspended as workers consider pay offer.

Newham Council braces for refuse strike

25/08/2022

Refuse workers in the London Borough of Newham are set to go on strike this Saturday to demand a pay increase that will keep up with spiralling price rises.

Scottish council workers reject 5% pay offer

24/08/2022

Waste service workers will today go on strike across 14 local authority areas in Scotland after Unite the union rejected a 5% pay offer.

Scottish council workers get improved pay offer

15/08/2022

Council leaders in Scotland have made an improved pay offer in a bid to avoid strike action.

Waste workers announce strike action across 15 Scottish councils

11/08/2022

Waste workers in 15 councils across Scotland will walk-out for a week this month in protest over the 'pitiful' 2% pay offer.

Birmingham faces fresh equal pay claims and strikes

09/08/2022

The leader of Birmingham CC has urged trade unions to engage in talks over fresh equal pay disputes – rather than ballot staff over potential strike action.

Council workers in Scotland vote for strike action

27/07/2022

Thousands of Scottish council workers have voted to strike in a dispute over the offered pay rise.

Sandwell refuse workers secure 9% pay rise to avoid strike action

22/07/2022

Refuse workers in Sandwell MBC have called off a planned strike due to start next week after accepting a 9% pay increase and securing additional annual leave.

Council and unions agree ‘strong pay offer’ for lowest paid staff

22/06/2022

Surrey CC's lowest paid staff are set to receive a pay boost after unions and the council finalised a pay offer that sees pay increases on a sliding scale.

Coventry bin lorry drivers renew strike

08/06/2022

HGV drivers in Coventry have voted to renew their strike mandate and continue industrial action into the summer over a pay dispute with the city council.

'Battle-ready’ union warns Scottish council leaders of summer strikes

10/05/2022

Unite the union yesterday told all new council leaders at Scottish local authorities to take ‘immediate action’ to improve pay or see strikes this summer.

Rugby workers will be latest to strike

25/04/2022

Refuse, recycling and street cleansing workers at Rugby BC are among the council employees who will walk out on strike this week.

Adur and Worthing bin strike ends with pay deal

21/04/2022

The long-running Adur and Worthing bin strike has ended after a new pay deal was reached with the local authority.

Glasgow strikes suspended as equal pay deal reached

14/04/2022

Public sector unions yesterday suspended all equal pay strikes after a deal was struck with Glasgow City Council to settle the long-running dispute.

Week-long strike over pay to hit local government sector

08/03/2022

Council workers are expected to strike for a week this month in the first coordinated industrial action to hit the sector in a decade.

Coventry bin lorry driver strike to cost council £1.8m

09/02/2022

The dispute in Coventry over the pay of bin lorry drivers is likely to cost the city council around £1.8m if it continues to the end of March, the local authority has warned.

National industrial action prospects over pay fade

07/02/2022

A nationally-coordinated wave of industrial action over this year’s pay claim looks increasingly unlikely as the outcome of trade union ballots emerged.

Coventry council hires private contractor amid bin strikes

27/01/2022

Coventry City Council today announced that it is set to bring in a private contractor to help collect waste as strike action by bin lorry drivers continues.

Plymouth council agrees pay uplift for HGV drivers

05/01/2022

The union Unite have welcomed a decision by Plymouth council to give HGV drivers a pay increase by regrading their jobs.

Coventry bin lorry drivers strike proposal ‘impractical’

15/12/2021

Coventry City Council has rejected a union proposal that bin lorry drivers work for one hour and then go on strike for another hour.

Coventry RCV drivers vote to strike

07/12/2021

Bin lorry drivers in Coventry have voted to take strike action in a dispute over pay and Christmas working arrangements.

Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2021

06/12/2021

From the ongoing dispute over council pay, to how local government is adjusting in the wake of the pandemic, here are the most popular 100 stories on LocalGov from 2021.

Union starts ballot for strike action

02/12/2021

A trade union has started balloting 370,000 council and school staff for strike action over the 'inadequate' pay offer.

HGV drivers threaten Christmas strikes

24/11/2021

Drivers of heavy goods vehicles who work for Coventry City Council’s waste services are threatening to go on strike over the Christmas period as part of a pay dispute.

Thousands of council workers to strike over pay in Scotland

26/10/2021

Trade unions have warned half of Scotland’s local authority areas will see strike action next month unless an agreement is made over council pay.

Refuse workers strike against ‘ongoing attacks’ on pay and conditions

21/10/2021

Union members at Veolia Sheffield have voted to strike over pay and what they characterise as ‘ongoing attacks’ to their terms and conditions.

Brighton council and union reaches deal to end bin strike

19/10/2021

Brighton residents will soon once again see their streets cleared of bin bags as the council reaches a deal with striking refuse collection workers to resolve the ongoing industrial dispute.

More unions announce strike ballots

06/10/2021

Two more trade unions have moved a step closer to industrial action after members rejected the latest pay offer.

New pay deal ends long-running bin strikes in South London

03/09/2021

Disruption to refuse services in the London Borough of Bexley has finally come to an end after a new pay deal was agreed.

Council ‘outraged’ by Unite decision to continue bin strike

14/05/2021

Thurrock Council has said that it is ‘disappointed’ workers in the local authority’s waste and recycling department have decided to continue pay strike.

Norwich Council workers to strike over pay dispute

13/05/2021

Staff working at a council-owned company in Norwich have announced five days of strike action over 'broken promises' on pay.

District council workers agree to strike next month

18/11/2020

Up to 1,000 workers at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are set to strike following a row about pay and conditions.

Refuse workers in Wirral walk out over coronavirus fears

08/04/2020

Refuse collectors in Wirral have refused to work after claiming Biffa Waste Services failed to introduce strict social distancing measures.

Local government pay summit to go ahead

30/03/2020

Negotiators hope to keep local government pay discussions on track despite the difficulties posed by the coronavirus crisis.

Bromley's eight-month strike comes to an end

31/01/2020

An eight-month long strike at Bromley’s library services has finally ended following an agreement between Unite and the employer, Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL).

Pay dispute threatens to ‘disrupt’ council tax collection

24/01/2020

Newham council faces ‘significant disruption’ to council tax collection and rebates when staff stage a week-long strike in a job evaluation row.

Surrey firefighters vote for Christmas industrial action

12/12/2019

Firefighters in Surrey have voted in favour of industrial action short of strike over the Christmas period in order to fight against local authority cuts.

Fleet mechanics threaten strike after being asked to ‘accept one compromise too many’

03/12/2019

Council fleet mechanics in Wigan are being balloted for strike action after being told to work late on Fridays, according to Unite.

Lincolnshire health visitors to strike amid pay dispute with council

19/11/2019

A number of health visitors in Lincolnshire started a month-long strike yesterday over what they describe as the council’s ‘divide and rule’ policy.

Library strike ‘longest-running employment dispute of modern times’

13/11/2019

A strike by library workers in Bromley, south east London, is set to enter its sixth month.

Union ballots over strike action at Greenwich Council

03/09/2019

Housing employees at Greenwich Council in London are being balloted for strike action over the ending of a productivity agreement.

Lincolnshire health visitors announce new pay strikes

06/08/2019

Unite have announced that health visitors employed by the council will be holding further demonstrations across Lincolnshire as part of an ongoing pay dispute.

Lincolnshire health visitors strike over pay row

16/07/2019

Health visitors in Lincolnshire began strike action yesterday after failing to reach an agreement with the county council over their rate of pay.

Birmingham council apologises to union over waste dispute comments

30/04/2019

Birmingham City Council has apologised to Unite the Union over comments made during the recent protracted dispute with refuse collectors.

Council employees balloted for strike action

15/04/2019

Newham council workers are threatening the council with strike action after the authority proposed a new pay structure that would lead to cuts.

Dundee council workers threaten strike action

02/04/2019

Dundee City Council workers have voted in support of industrial action in response to local authority cuts.

Birmingham council and union ‘welcome’ end to refuse dispute

18/03/2019

Refuse collectors who took part in strikes in Birmingham are to be given £3,500 each in a settlement which both sides say has ended the long-running dispute.

Birmingham refuse strike called off

04/03/2019

Unions called off a planned strike by refuse collectors in Birmingham today after the city council lost a bid to have the action declared illegal.

Birmingham's winter of discontent

15/02/2019

With a series of one-day strikes to go ahead in Birmingham, Mark Whitehead explores what led to this long-running dispute over waste collection.

Union refused an injunction over ongoing bin dispute

15/02/2019

A series of one-day strikes by refuse collectors in Birmingham is set to go ahead next week after a legal challenge by the Unite union failed.

Union seeks injunction against Birmingham in long-running bin dispute

07/02/2019

Unite is taking high court legal action against Birmingham City Council for operating refuse vehicles without safety critical role.

Hundreds of Birmingham refuse workers to strike ‘weekly’

05/02/2019

Over 300 refuse workers have announced they will begin two days of strike action a week in an escalation of the ongoing industrial dispute with the council.

Glasgow strike settlement: a bumpy road ahead

24/01/2019

Mark Whitehead explores the challenges facing Glasgow City Council following its agreement to settle the £500m equal pay deal.

Council pay offer rejected as union moves towards strike action

09/11/2018

The 3% pay offer for council workers in Scotland has been rejected by members of Unison Scotland.

Glasgow - peace on the horizon?

05/11/2018

Mark Whitehead explores the complexities of an equal pay dispute that led to thousands of women striking last month in Glasgow.

Council pension fund forum calls for Ryanair chair to step down

29/10/2018

An association of council pension funds has called for the replacement of Ryanair’s chair and has urged Michael O’Leary to set out his succession plans.

Glasgow and unions agree meetings to resolve dispute

26/10/2018

Talks following the two-day strike by more than 8,000 women in Glasgow this week were described as positive and constructive by both sides.

Hopes emerge as talks resume following Glasgow strike

25/10/2018

Mark Whitehead explores what led thousands of council staff to strike in Glasgow this week.

Glasgow CC offers ‘olive branch’ in equal pay row

25/10/2018

Talks were taking place today in a bid to settle the equal pay row that led to a two-day strike by more than 8,000 women in Glasgow this week.

Equal pay strike closes council facilities and hundreds of schools

24/10/2018

Unions were today claiming the strike by 8,000 women staff in Glasgow over equal pay was solid and council facilities had shut down as other workers refused to cross picket lines.

Breaking: Council affected by secondary strike action

23/10/2018

The strike by 8,000 women staff in Glasgow over equal pay appeared to be escalating on day one as more workers downed tools to show their support.

Council strike over equal pay goes ahead

23/10/2018

One of the biggest strikes in the UK over equal pay went ahead this morning as thousands of women walked out in the dispute with Glasgow City Council.

Council staff to strike over equal pay claims

22/10/2018

Thousands of women at one of the UK's biggest councils are set to walk out on strike for two days this week over equal pay.

Unions offered new pay rise to avert strike action

14/09/2018

A new pay offer has been put forward by councils in Scotland in a bid to avert industrial action.

Union members to strike at Scottish council over 'savage cuts'

07/06/2018

A third union has voted to take industrial action at East Dunbartonshire Council over proposed changes to terms and conditions including cuts in holiday entitlement.

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