The voice of 4000 Public Service Workers in Brighton & Hove
Brighton & Hove UNISION is a large and dynamic branch, with a 25 year history in representing public sector workers in the city, as well as leading on activism and organising around the issues that affect them. We represent thousands of workers in local government, and hundreds delivering public services in the community, voluntary and private sector.
UNISON’s Industrial Action Ballot for local government and schools staff is live!
UNISON’s industrial action (IA) ballot for council and school staff over the 2024 pay offer in England and Wales runs from the 4 September to 16 October. UNISON is the only union at Brighton and Hove city council that is balloting members to take strike action to force the national pay body back to the table to improve your pay.
UNISON’s council and schools committee of leading activists are recommending that members vote ‘YES‘ for strike action and are urging them to return their ballots as soon as possible.
Members who are eligible to vote should receive a purple envelope in the post over the coming weeks. It will contain your ballot papers and a free-post envelope to return your vote.
Ballots must be returned before 10am on Wednesday 16 October. If you are not currently a member of UNISON and want to add your voice the ballot please join by 3 October.
The IA ballot comes after an online consultation of members on the pay offer from the employers which saw an overwhelming vote to reject.
The offer of £1,290 fell far short of our reasonable and affordable pay claim and leaves local government and schools staff with an offer that is less than half of that of other public sector workers*. Speaking on the opening of the ballot, general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“I fully support council and school workers being balloted. You are the backbone of our communities, delivering the essential services that keep us together, yet your pay has stagnated severely for more than a decade.
“In real terms, your pay is down by almost a third since 2010. UNISON is asking you to vote ‘Yes’ in favour of action because the pay offer from local government employers falls far short of what you need and deserve.
“The idea of taking industrial action can be daunting, but I’m here to reassure you you’re not alone. You have the backing of 1.3 million fellow UNISON members behind you. We’re with you in solidarity and support every step of the way.
“It’s crucial we gather the views of all 375,000 members being balloted. This is your chance to make your voice heard, and your vote is your voice. So please ensure you use your vote. A big turnout will help us fight for a better pay rise for all of our members in councils and schools.”
Brighton and Hove UNISON's last industrial ballot result was one of the best in the country, with us being just a couple of hundred votes off meeting the 50% return threshold out of thousands of members. We believe we can easily beat that this year, particularly as the pay offer is less than 2023/24 and most people's financial wellbeing has only worsened.
Watch Jon Richards, Deputy General Secretary's solidarity video here.
*Most NHS workers, teachers and members of the armed forces will be getting a 5.5% pay increase after the government agreed to honour pay review board recommendations. The local government pay offer amounts for the majority of workers to only 2.5%.
About Us
We are a friendly and inclusive branch made up of 8 elected Officers, employed case workers and nearly 100 Reps and Stewards. Three-quarters of our membership are women and we also represent many low paid and front-line workers.
Welcome to the branch!
The Branch was born in 1997 when services that had been delivered by East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove Borough Councils were brought in to one unitary authority. We are proud of our legacy so far and have deservedly built a reputation for being collaborative and constructive; whilst having zero tolerance for inequality or any attacks on, or reductions in, pay and conditions. Some of the Branch’s successes include a Teaching Assistant’s Strike which led to improved pay for hundreds of workers, and our extensive work on Equal Pay through Single Status, which led to backdated cumulative pay increases in the millions of pounds.
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As a branch one of our key priorities, alongside supporting members on workplace issues, is to campaign and lobby for positive change.
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UNISON Conferences form the backbone of the union’s democratic structure, and provide the main mechanism for members, Reps and Branch Officers to affect and design union policies and procedures.
One of the biggest benefits of trade union membership and activism is that it can link you with a fantastic range of learning and training opportunities.
“I’ve been through a really difficult and stressful situation in my work for the best part of this year and I’m happy to say, with my Reps immense support, it has now been resolved. I really don’t know what I would have done without my Reps skills and knowledge and her voice of calm reassurance which really kept me going throughout. There were times I felt like giving up but her wise words and confidence kept me going.”
— Vol & Comm Sector member
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Brighton & Hove Unison helps around 500 members a year with everything from informal advice to legal representation. Unionised workplaces are safer, happier, fairer and more productive. Unionised workers earn more than non-unionised workers, and young unionised workers earn up to a third more than their non-unionised counterparts.