COUNCIL workers and school support workers across Bolton will strike on July 10 after voting in favour of industrial action following a row over pay.

Hundreds of members of public sector union Unison will walk out for 24 hours after a national ballot in protest of a one per cent pay offer.

Unison said local government workers have been “condemned” to three years of pay freezes, followed by below-inflation rises in 2013 and 2014, leaving their pay reduced by almost 20 per cent since the coalition came to power.

Bernadette Gallagher, secretary of the Bolton branch of Unison, said they were gearing up for strike action after the result was announced yesterday.

She added: “Our members can’t continue to accept pay freezes and once per cent pay rises. We believe that our members are worth a decent pay offer, of no less than £1 an hour with £1.20 for the lowest paid.”

The GMB and Unite will announce voting results over the next week, while the Public and Commercial Services union is also balloting members for a strike in a long-running dispute over cuts in the civil service, with the result also due by the end of the month.

Sean Harriss, Bolton Council chief executive, said: “The council is aware that Unison have indicated they will be taking strike action on July 10. The council will work on managing the situation on the day on the strike.”

National Union of Teachers members will also take industrial action on July 10.