Government told to stop dithering as Unite National Dispute Committee meets
Following an overwhelming mandate for industrial action, Unite’s National Dispute Committee, comprising elected shop stewards across the public sector, met today (Thursday) to finalise plans for strike action on 14 October.
The action is being coordinated by the ICTU Public Services Committee and will result in widespread disruption as workers throughout the public sector down tools in pursuit of inflation-beating pay increases.
With inflation currently running at 3.7 per cent, workers are facing an escalating cost-of-living crisis. In August, Unite’s cost-of-living tracker survey of public sector members found that a growing number have fallen behind on essential payments or been forced to borrow simply to meet household costs. See notes to editor.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Since the public sector agreement expired at the end of June, the government has sat on its hands while inflation continues to erode workers’ living standards. Time is running out for the government to stop dithering and come to the table with an inflation-beating pay offer”.
Speaking after today’s meeting of the National Dispute Committee, Unite Deputy Regional Secretary Tom Fitzgerald said: “Unite’s members are angry and frustrated. Public sector pay has not kept up with inflation and the workers who keep our services running cannot make ends meet. Unite’s public sector members are now preparing to defend their living standards on the picket line”.
Note: Unite survey
Unite’s tracker survey of public sector members was carried out between July 30 and August 14 and repeated questions asked in a survey conducted between 16 February and 9 March.
The survey found that two key measurements have worsened significantly since the previous survey in the spring:
- 34 per cent (previous: 26 per cent) had fallen behind on payments such as rent, mortgage, bills or loans over the past year
- 37 per cent (previous: 33 per cent) had to borrow to meet their household costs over the year
