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Council workers vote for strike Council workers vote for strike
(10 minutes later)
Council workers have voted in favour of industrial action in a dispute over pay, the union Unison has announced.Council workers have voted in favour of industrial action in a dispute over pay, the union Unison has announced.
Members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland voted by 55% to strike, after rejecting a 2.45% pay offer.Members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland voted by 55% to strike, after rejecting a 2.45% pay offer.
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said this was "a clear message" to employers "that our members are willing to fight for a decent pay rise".Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said this was "a clear message" to employers "that our members are willing to fight for a decent pay rise".
The union's negotiators will make a decision about what action to recommend to the national strike committee later.The union's negotiators will make a decision about what action to recommend to the national strike committee later.
The vote comes after Chancellor Alistair Darling said he wanted people from the "boardroom to the shop floor" to take pay rises "consistent" with the government's 2% inflation target.The vote comes after Chancellor Alistair Darling said he wanted people from the "boardroom to the shop floor" to take pay rises "consistent" with the government's 2% inflation target.
David Cameron urges government to be strong with unions
Conservative leader David Cameron warned the government it was going to have to be "extremely tough" on unions to avert a wave of strikes.Conservative leader David Cameron warned the government it was going to have to be "extremely tough" on unions to avert a wave of strikes.
He said Labour was "so reliant" on unions for funding they felt they had a "stranglehold" over the party anf felt they could "dictate terms".
And he backed tough action on strikes as they "rarely achieve their goal", he said.
Mr Prentis said his members - who range from school dinner ladies, classroom assistants to architects and refuse collectors - were "fed up and angry they are expected to accept pay cut after pay cut while bread and butter prices go through the roof".
"Most of them are low-paid workers, who are hit hardest by food and fuel price hikes, and they see the unfairness of boardroom bonanzas and big City bonuses."