The unions UCATT, Unite, the GMB and the CSEU are seeking a whopping 7.5% pay increase over the next 12 months.

John Allott, Unite National Officer, said: “The pay increase over the last four years have been below inflation and the pay gap between local authority craft workers and the private sector construction craft workers has widened alarmingly. This is unsustainable and unacceptable and needs to be addressed in this year’s pay round. Industrial action is a strong possibility if a below inflation offer is tabled again.”

Last year craft workers in local government were given 2.47 per cent.