Unite Local Government Pay Campaign

Introduction

Since 2021, Unite the Union has now won over £620 million in additional earnings for members through industrial action campaigns.

The evidence is clear – where we run effective campaigns we gain real wins.

For years, we have been building a strategy in local government to ensure members can secure improvements during our national pay campaigns.

Our strategy uses disaggregated strike ballots as opposed to one national ballot.

This is done primarily so that we can meet the legal thresholds for turnout, which still require that 50% of members take part in a ballot.

This is extremely difficult to do in one ballot on a national basis. Instead, we are disaggregating ballots so that votes are counted local authority by local authority.

In some cases, we will be disaggregating further so that specific services are balloted in standalone ballots.

This guide aims to assist Reps and Branches with the process.

We want to ensure that there is clarity so that you are then best placed to make decisions regarding which areas to look at for disaggregation and crucially, to then follow up and ensure that we win the vote.

Disaggregation Strategy

Targeted ballots will be conducted on a local authority by local authority basis and our consultation with members will determine what these target workplaces are.

The plan is that the union wins ballots in enough local authorities so that we can take action together as part of a national campaign.

In addition, the union is considering which services within authorities can also be balloted on a standalone basis.

This can further assist to maximize the number of members who can legally take part in action.

By way of example, in 2023, we focused on refuse and housing services within specific councils where our membership was prepared to take action.

These workers were able to secure strike mandates and then achieve wins for their departments and in some cases also for the wider workforce.

The aim of the 2026 campaign is to increase the number of workplaces who use this tactic.

If several Branches adopt the same tactic across the regions, then the union can have a national impact, hopefully alongside our sister trade unions.

Branches should therefore consider which services to disaggregate.

Considerations can include union density, impact and growth potential, responses to the consultation and successful collective actions in the workplace.

Outsourced Services

We can ballot outsourced services in the same way. It will often be the case that such employers will mirror local government pay awards.

But even if they do not, balloting outsourced workers on a pay claim can strengthen the campaign.

The key here is to ensure that a claim has gone into the outsourced employer.

Once the Branch identifies an outsourced employer, the Regional Officer can assist with getting a claim to the employer and can then add to the employers being balloted.

Local Issues

The disaggregation strategy allows Branches to add local issues.

The experience is that this will help to win support for a ballot.

As part of the online consultation, members will also be asked to identify other local issues that can be included on the strike ballot paper.

This means that, even if the national pay offer were to be accepted, members could continue their campaign and secure additional local wins and improvements.

For example, in 2023, members in Warrington were able to secure permanent jobs for seasonal workers to settle their dispute and in Newham, members secured a cost-of-living payment of £750 for the lowest paid workers.

Local issues can include, but are not limited to:
Improving overtime rates
Increasing mileage rates
Unsocial hours payments
Health and safety improvements
Tackling bullying and harassment
Permanent jobs for agency or temporary workers
Opposition to outsourcing
Additional annual leave
Changing shift patterns

It can also be very specific for particular groups of workers, for example home care workers being paid from when they leave home to when they return.

Ballot Process

Once we have identified our target workplaces for strike ballots, the Regional Officer with the allocation will be responsible for ensuring that the necessary legal papers are served on employers.

It is important that Reps and Branches are aware of the process and that we use this process as part of the campaign, highlighting the issues in dispute to members and preparing them for when their ballot papers arrive in the post. In general terms, the process is as follows:

Data Cleanse – this is the process of ensuring that records are as up to date as possible, including home address, work address and job title.

This is very important because the Union is legally required to make sure this information is accurate and up to date, and it also ensures members will receive their ballot papers quickly and without issue, once the vote opens.

Reps should encourage members to make sure their details are up to date through the MyUnite login page.

Members will also be able to update their details with us during the online consultation.

Regional Legal Officer / Regional Officer – the Regional Officer will prepare a dispute form, including details of areas disaggregated by service, a list of members with required details and a separate form showing numbers of members who pay by Direct Debit.

This is a legal requirement, and the necessary details are job titles, workplace addresses and numbers. This is prepared with the assistance of Branches and Reps.

Civica – this independent organization will run our ballots. The Regional Officer supplies the ballot paper and membership details.

Ballot papers will be posted back to Civica for counting.

It is very important that Unite members understand that posting ballots is a legal requirement- the online consultation will not count towards securing a strike mandate.

Ballot Notice – served by the Regional Officer no less than 7 days before a ballot starts.

Ballot Period – this varies, but we are aiming for our ballots to run between 5-6 weeks over the summer.

Ballot Result – supplied to the Regional Officer who must then, if the result is positive, inform the employer, reps and members of the result on the same day. Reps should help display these results around the workplace(s).

Strike Notice – issued by the Regional Officer no less than 10 days before the first day of action.

A strike mandate will last for 12 months from the date that the ballot closes. All members will now be protected for the full 12-month mandate, from dismissal for taking industrial action.

Campaigning

As part of our online consultation, we are asking Reps and Branches to ensure at least one collective action takes place in the workplace.

Branches will also need to have campaigns in place to maximize the vote turn out once strike ballots launch.

There are various methods that can be used. Sometimes it will be necessary to use all, other cases will require a decision to concentrate on particular methods.

These might include:

Branch Meetings – these are essential and face to face engagement with members is always most effective.

Pledge cards/petitions – will assist with engaging with members and confirming preparedness to take strike action.

Setting up a strike committee – this will assist with engaging as many reps as possible and reps will receive both regional and national support with this.

Rallies / lobbies – for example outside service centres, workplaces or Town Halls.

Leafletting – rather than only sending emails, it will be essential to engage and discuss with members. Leafletting sessions can assist this process and reps will be provided with campaign materials from head office.

Mapping - this refers to the process whereby we record who is in the workplace through a list and will include details such as whether they are a member, have they been asked to join and whether they would like to get active in the campaign. It is important because it shows us how strong we are in any given workplace, but can also assist us in targeting which employees we need to speak with. The Branch should consider whether the workplace is mapped solidly? Do reps have a copy of the map and an idea of who to target for recruitment?

Communications - WhatsApp groups and broadcast lists have been critical in many industrial campaigns and provide an easy way to keep in touch with members quickly. A regular newsletter in the workplace also helps to complement updates nationally.

Research for possible local leverage

The Branch can look at how it can support the strike and make it as effective as possible through local leverage targets.

Who are the key decision makers? Are there places where the union can protest or leaflet to pressurize them?

Is there a corporate or business event or council meeting the union can demonstrate at?

Is the target a service that affects the public? If so, can we get into the residents’ groups on social media and WhatsApp?

Can we organise public meetings or marches? The local press should be contacted directly through union officials.

Councils will often feel more pressure from local media than a generalized national story.

Other Key Activities

Branches should plan for the following additional activities which can make the difference:

Pre Ballot Phonebank:
Names and addresses check before ballot gets sent out to avoid missed ballots. Also keeps members talking about the strike.
Phonebank During Ballot:

Members can be called to ask

“Did you get your ballot?

Did you post your ballot?”

This often drives up turnout, keeps members engaged, presents opportunities to have one on one chats with nervous members who won’t speak at meetings.

This can be done through a simple phone-bank tree with reps and activists assigned 10-20 names each. Your national team can also help to support with this during the campaign.

During Ballot FAQ Newsletter:
This can provide assurance to members and your national team will help support this.

Information such as, “You can’t be sacked for taking industrial action”,

“Strike Pay is X per week and will be paid around Y date”,

“any concerns or questions contact a rep/officer on….” Etc.

Strike Pay:
Branches should have strike pay forms printed and ready.

Particular reps can be tasked to give them out and collect them.

Strike pay is administered via the Region. Avoiding delays can be key to maintaining support for a dispute.

Unite the Union is the only union that pays £70 a day strike pay from day 1.

The union also has a history of appeals to other unions to top this up so as to minimize hardship for strikers. Your Regional Officer will support with this.

Solidarity Appeals:
Branches can ask workers in similar industries or other disputes to make solidarity videos, and send messages of support. Letters can be sent out by Unite to appeal for donations or to request that the representatives from the Branch attend meetings of other unions to discuss the campaign.

Pickets:
Where members vote for strike action, picket line activity can make all the difference when it comes to morale.

Is food needed?

Can we buy a barbecue and provide food?

Does the Branch have a PA system or speaker?

Roles should be agreed as to who is responsible for food, moving equipment, banners, flags etc. Your Regional and National Officers can help support this activity too.

Will a rota be needed for different shifts? Do we need to have everyone on the picket all the time?

Is there public leafleting that can be organised? (This is especially critical in public sector disputes.)

Reps can contact their Regional Officer to order a “picket pack” which will include placards, a banner, flyers, flags, armbands and high-vis vests.

Conclusion

Thousands of Unite members in local authorities have been involved in disputes over the last few years.

The vast majority of disputes have concluded with successful outcomes.

This has not been down to luck – it has been down to meticulous planning and activity.

Planning has allowed campaigns to ensure that legal thresholds for ballot turn-outs are met, new members are recruited and campaigns with real gains are won.

Local government members in Branches across the Regions have won campaigns to both defend and improve pay and conditions, defend jobs and win new jobs.

This has been done and done brilliantly, on a branch-by-branch basis. It is now time to replicate this success across all the Regions as part of a united pay campaign.

If you have any further queries about running an industrial action campaign and ballot, please contact your Regional Officer and National Officer.