LONDON (AFP) — Tens of thousands of local government workers and civil servants embarked on a two-day strike on Wednesday in a bitter dispute over their wages.
Members of the Unite and Unison unions are protesting over a rejected pay increase of 2.45 percent, proposed by local councils, which employers have insisted is their final offer.
Officials said councils in the northeast and northwest were worst hit by the strike, which has affected a broad range of services across the country, from schools and libraries to sports centres and rubbish collection services.
Union officials say nearly quarter of a million council workers earn less than £6.50 a hour. Three quarter of council workers are women.
Separately, Public and Commercial Services Union members will walk out at various points over the coming days in their own pay row.
"The cost of everyday essentials like milk, bread, petrol, gas, and electricity are going through the roof -- our members cannot afford to take another cut in their pay," said Unison General Secretary Dave Prentis.
"Strike action is always a last resort but we have been left with no choice."
The widespread strikes come just a day after official data showed annual inflation jumped to a 16-year high point of 3.8 percent in June, owing to big rises for food and fuel prices.
Jan Parkinson, the managing director of the Local Government Employers, said the group remained "willing to talk to the unions on a constructive basis about the future employment conditions of our workforce, but this week's strikes will not change the fact that our last offer was our final offer."
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