Kirklees Council workers are set to walk out next month in a dispute over pay.
Unison’s local government and school support workers voted yes to taking one-day industrial action over a 1% pay offer.
And if other national unions vote in favour of strike action up to two million workers could walk out on July 10 - with the potential for it to be the biggest strike action since the coalition came to power.
Paul Holmes, Kirklees Unison branch secretary said: “We’d like national discussions so it can be avoided. But if not there will be a massive rally on the day as several unions could walk out.
“If all the votes are in favour there could be two millions civil servants out - that will really get the message across.”
In Huddersfield the unions are planning to meet in St George’s Square at 10.30am with a walk through the town centre and back to the Square for a rally at 11.30am.
As well as Unison members, the National Union of Teachers are set to strike while ballot results by the GMB and Unite unions are due back soon. The strike relates to a national pay dispute, but later tonight (Wednesday) Kirklees Unison is holding a special meeting of its members solely related to Kirklees Council disputes.
As the Examiner has already reported, up to 1,400 more Kirklees Council jobs could go and changes are proposed to terms and conditions. Tonight’s meeting is separate to the national pay dispute.
National Unison General Secretary Dave Prentis said: “These workers care for our elderly, clean our streets, feed and educate our school children and keep our libraries running, but they receive no recognition in their pay packets.
“They are mainly low paid women workers, stressed and demoralised, and they deserve better from their employers and from this Government. This is the group that has borne the brunt of the Government’s austerity agenda... we call on the employers to get back into talks to agree a fair deal for local government and school support workers”.
Of the 85,020 Unison ballots cast 49,836 (58.7%) voted for strike action and 35,062 (41.3%) voted against it - the question they were asked was “are you prepared to take part in a strike?”
Dave Prentis, added: “We have a clear majority for strike action so a one day strike will go ahead on 10 July.
“We expect to be joined in that action by other unions in local government and will be campaigning amongst our members for maximum support on that day.
“The employers must get back into talks immediately to avoid a damaging dispute.”
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