“Pay up for Pompey” strike ballot

Monday, 13 July 2026 10:00

By Toby Paine, Local Democracy Reporter @V2RadioSussex

The National Joint Council should “Pay up for Pompey” as council workers face strike ballot, the union UNISON says.

Council and school workers in Portsmouth are being asked to vote for strike action as unions campaign for better pay.

Around 200,000 local government staff across England and Wales will be balloted on industrial action after unions rejected a 3.3 per cent pay offer from the National Joint Council (NJC).

The workers covered include teaching assistants, social workers, refuse workers, housing staff, street cleaners and librarians.

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, says the 3.3 per cent offer falls short of “restoring the value of workers’ pay after years of decline”, arguing council staff have seen a real-terms pay cut of 26 per cent since 2010.

The union says that equates to more than £7,000 for a typical teaching assistant and more than £18,000 for social workers and housing officers.

UNISON’s ballot opened today (9 July) and runs until 6 August.

UNISON South East regional secretary Jo Galloway said: “Council and school workers in Portsmouth deserve fair pay for the essential services they provide every day.

“Our ‘Pay Up 4 Pompey’ campaign is sending a clear message that local government staff cannot keep falling further behind while the cost of living continues to rise.

“Strike action is an absolute last resort for staff. Employers still have time to improve their offer and avoid a dispute.”

Members of Unite the Union will also be balloted on industrial action, with voting taking place between 16 July and 17 August.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Council workers are struggling to keep their heads above water after over a decade of pathetic pay deals.

“Employers are again trying to cut the real terms pay of workers instead of investing in our members, who do vital jobs in our communities.

“Unite will not stand by and allow our members to have another paltry pay deal inflicted on them. They have our full backing in their fight for fair pay.”

Unite is also balloting members at Hampshire County Council and Southampton City Council.

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