UNISON Strike Ballot in Portsmouth

Council workers across Portsmouth could be asked to strike later this summer after UNISON rejected this year’s local government pay offer.

In December last year, UNISON, the UK’s largest trade union, tabled a pay claim for National Joint Council (NJC) local government workers for the 2026/27 financial year.

The union called for a 10 per cent pay rise for all workers and a minimum hourly rate of £15.

In March, the NJC employers’ side for England, Wales and Northern Ireland instead offered a 3.3 per cent pay increase.

UNISON rejected the offer, arguing it fell below Treasury inflation forecasts of 3.5 per cent by the end of 2026.

The union will now ballot its members on whether to take strike action, with the result expected in mid to late August.

UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan said “strike action is our leverage” and the union’s way of telling employers that “we won’t just accept crumbs from the table. We won’t accept lower wages, and we won’t accept real-terms pay cuts.”

If industrial action goes ahead, UNISON says it could affect schools, social care, children’s services, waste collection, libraries and housing services.

It was recently reported that councils across Hampshire are preparing contingency plans in case industrial action goes ahead.

A UNISON spokesperson said: “Portsmouth City Council staff, including youth workers, housing support officers, care assistants and school support staff, provide vital services that local people rely on every day. They have spent years doing more with less while their pay has fallen by more than a quarter in real terms since 2010. Enough is enough.

“Last December, UNISON, alongside GMB and Unite, submitted a pay claim to the National Joint Council (NJC) for an increase of at least £3,000 or 10%, whichever is greater, because the people who keep our communities running deserve pay that reflects the value of the work they do.

“With rising workloads and soaring demand for services, workers will no longer tolerate real-terms pay cuts. If councils want to deliver high-quality public services with committed and skilled staff, fair pay is essential.”

Natalie Brahma-Pearl, chief executive of the council said: “The council respects the right of employees to decide whether to participate in lawful industrial action.

“We recognise the importance of pay to our workforce and appreciate the valuable contribution staff make in supporting residents and communities across Portsmouth.”

A council spokesperson added that it “routinely considers contingency arrangements” for potential service disruptions and that “it is not possible to assess any financial impact at this stage”, as this would depend on the duration of any industrial action and the number of staff who take part.

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