• New poll says a majority of people in Wales think public sector workers deserve a pay rise – and would back strikes to get one
• Poll released as NHS workers in the largest health union are being advised to reject pay deal and back industrial action.
• News also comes after successful strikes by bus workers north and south and Panasonic workers in Cardiff.
• Major walkout by Tesco workers over pay also set to take place in the run up to Christmas
Image via UNISON Cymru Wales
A poll by Savanta ComRes has found that 73% of people in Wales believe that after ten years of wage suppression for health, care, school, cleansing and other public sector workers, it’s time for a pay rise.
The poll, commissioned by public sector union UNISON Cymru Wales, also found that 51% of people would support these workers if they went on strike for a wage increase.
The news comes as healthcare, school and council workers in the union are currently voting on whether to strike against below-inflation pay deals across the board.
Welsh NHS workers in UNISON are being balloted unitil this Friday, 10th December, on whether or not to reject and strike against the Welsh Government’s pay deal.
The pay offer of 3% was announced by Welsh Government in the summer and angered unions, who say they were not consulted with.
It has also infuriated health workers who have suffered year-on-year pay cuts relative to inflation for over 10 years, and have faced their toughest time ever with the pandemic.
After a backlash and clear votes against the pay deal from various unions, the Welsh Government revised the offer by adding a 1% non-consolidated rise, leaving some workers out. UNISON is recommending its members reject the new deal, paving the way for strikes.
Meanwhile, council and school staff in Wales are also being balloted on a pay deal of around 1.75% for most workers, with UNISON recommending its members vote ‘yes’ to strike action. The ballot closes on 14th January.
The public sector votes come after a flurry of action in the private sector, with Stagecoach bus workers in South Wales recently winning an almost 10% pay rise after a 4 week strike, and Arriva bus workers in the north winning a wage uplift to £12 per hour after after several days of walkouts involving over 300 workers.
Both strikes involved the Unite union, whose newly elected General Secretary Sharon Graham won the leadership on the back of a pledge to organise workers around core issues such as pay.
Her election is part of a trend of growing worker militancy.
Just last Friday, the GMB union announced a ‘big win’ for its members at Panasonic in Cardiff, who after three days of walkouts at the electrical giant turned a pay freeze into a pay rise of up to 5.5% and a £300 annual bonus.
Today it has been announced that Tesco workers in both Unite and Usdaw will strike against a 4% pay offer that unions say is not enough to keep up with the cost of living and doesn’t give workers a wage they deserve after a pandemic where they kept the country fed.
The strike is set to happen in the final run up to Christmas, from 20th December to the end of Christmas Eve.
The Usdaw strike affects sites at Daventry, Goole, Hinckley, Lichfield, Livingston, two at Magor, Peterborough and Southampton
Whilst Unite said more than 1,000 of its members – based at depots in Antrim, Belfast, Didcot and Doncaster, would take industrial action.
Last week, a Stagecoach striker urged other workers to strike over pay, telling them: “Do it, go on strike, because if you’re feeling undervalued and you’re being underpaid then the only way to make them realise is through taking strike action.”
The message appears to be finding resonance.
