CARERS, bin men, street cleaners and teaching assistants across Bolton are among thousands of council and school support workers in Bolton set to strike next week.

Members of Unison, GMB and Unite will walk out on July 10 as part of a national public sector strike over pay.

From 6am picket lines will be held outside council depots and officers, while a rally and demonstration will be held in Victoria Square from 10.30am.

Bolton Unison branch secretary Bernadette Gallagher said their members had had enough, and wanted to send a clear message to the government that they deserved more.

She said: “The government has had local government pay and conditions squarely in its sights since 2010.

“A pay freeze in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and below inflation rises in eight of the last 17 years has sent the pay packets of local government and school workers plummeting back to the level of the 1990s. We cannot carry on like this.”

The 24-hour walkout follows members voting to reject a one per cent pay increase.

Unison has been campaigning for a minimum increase of £1 an hour, and £1.20 for the lowest paid staff.

Sean Warren, Bolton GMB convenor added: “Many council workers in Bolton have been left struggling to get by, with some relying on food banks, second jobs and in-work benefits to make ends meet.

"This year’s offer would result in a cumulative real-term cut of almost 20 per cent for more than one million local government and school workers.”

A council spokesman said: “We are working across the council to prepare for the implications of strike action.

"Our priority will be to maintain services to the most vulnerable residents and service users.”

  • Firefighters in England and Wales will strike next Thursday, the Fire Brigades Union has announced. The strike will take place from 10am and 7pm and will be the fifteenth in the FBU’s campaign over changes to firefighters’ pensions.