Swansea Care Staff Council Strike Threat

Council staff in Swansea will meet next week to decide whether to take industrial action in a row over fair pay.

Many of the workers, employed in schools, care homes and care in the community, are said to feel “frustration and anger” over the absence of a deal with the council on equal pay.

The meeting, at the United Reformed Church, in Swansea’s High Street, comes after GMB union members passed a resolution in June to ballot for industrial action if the council did not bring in a new pay and grading system.

The unions say a nationally agreed pay and grading review should have come into force on April 1.

GMB regional organiser Jeff Burns said: “As it stands, the council has not committed itself to honouring the terms of the national agreement and has not committed to making any offer to settle equal pay claims.

A Swansea Council spokesman called it a great shame the union was taking such action.

He said: “The council is fully committed to agreeing a new structure with the unions and our employees. We have been working since the beginning of the year to progress this work.