We are balloting UNISON members about industrial action in support of this year's pay claim for council staff (so are the TGW and GMB unions).

Local government pay has fallen behind other public sector workers such as nurses, teachers and police during the last ten years. Private sector pay, even in some low paid jobs, has also overtaken ours.

UNISON members doing vital jobs in York, such as home carers, classroom assistants, school meals workers, librarians and environmental health officers, have become the poor relations of the private sector.

More than 277,000 local government workers earn less than £5 an hour. Some in privatised services earn less.

And women's pay is far from equal, too. On average a woman working for the City of York Council takes home only 66 pence for every £1 a male colleague earns. Meanwhile, councillors' allowances and chief executives' pay are rising fast. As our pay falls, staff are voting with their feet and going to work elsewhere. A home care worker can earn more in a supermarket, with far less stress. Almost every council in Britain, like York, faces a recruitment crisis.

UNISON and other trade unions submitted a pay claim which would give an hourly rate of just over £5 to the 277,000 part-time women staff at the bottom of the pay scale. Employers have not taken us seriously and have offered three per cent - less than 20 pence an hour more for the lowest paid.

UNISON members, like the Government and City of York Council, want to provide top quality services to local people. But we can't do it with vacant posts, undervalued staff and underfunding. We ask your readers to show us their support for decent pay and quality service. York City branch of UNISON can be contacted on 01904 553490.

Liz Carr,

Branch Secretary, UNISON,

8 Swinegate Court East,

York.

Updated: 12:11 Wednesday, June 19, 2002