Pay row escalates as Leeds council faces full strike ballot by union

Thousands of council workers have said they are prepared to take strike action in a dispute over equal pay, according to their union.

The GMB union consulted members at Leeds City Council on possible industrial action over wages for female workers.

The union said more than 4,000 women were involved in an equal pay claim against the authority.

Pay differences were found between jobs staffed mainly by women, like teaching assistants, compared to mainly male roles like refuse collection.

The GMB said an indicative ballot, which asked members if they supported industrial action in principle, resulted in a 94 per cent ‘yes’ vote after almost 2,500 took part.

GMB senior organiser Julie Wynn said a formal ballot would now be launched.

She said: “This is an overwhelming mandate for industrial action that represents the anger Leeds have created with its shamefully low offer to staff they’ve been underpaying for years.

“Thousands of women have had their say, and the message couldn’t be clearer.

“Leeds council leadership now has no choice but to put a serious offer on the table or expect mass disruption to services across the city.”

The GMB previously warned the equal pay claim could cost the council hundreds of millions of pounds to resolve.

The council said it wanted to continue talks and avoid a costly settlement which would lead to job cuts and council tax rises.

A spokesperson said: “We will therefore continue to seek a settlement that is fair and realistic, and would once again stress that we are open to further discussions with the GMB to try to find common ground on this important matter.

“We can confirm that the GMB has today notified us of the outcome of the indicative ballot and its intention to now open a formal ballot on industrial action.”