STRIKING council workers in three local authorities marched in Cardiff and demonstrated in Llandudno today in their fight for a fair pay rise.

Unite Wales has announced that its members in Cardiff and Wrexham local authorities will strike for a further three weeks from September 25 to October 15. 

Workers at the two councils and Gwynedd Council are currently on strike until September 17.

Unite members rejected the local authority employers’ pay offer of just £1,925, a poorer offer than last year and a real-terms pay cut.

Unite Wales regional secretary Peter Hughes said: “These strikes are about the scourge of low pay within local authorities. 

“It can’t be acceptable for council workers who provide essential public services to be earning salaries that are barely above the national minimum wage.”

Striking council worker Sarah Gee said: “Being paid just 20 pence above the minimum wage for what we do physically is just not right.”

The Unite Wales strikers marched from Cardiff council’s headquarters to the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.

In North Wales, the union took its fight to the Welsh Local Government Association’s annual conference in Llandudno, calling on the body to talk to its members and get the dispute settled.

Mr Hughes said: “Welsh councils must stop hiding behind the position of the Local Authority Pay Body and improve our members’ terms and conditions.

“Until they do this our industrial action will continue.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “There has been silence from local authority employers during this strike action. 

“Our members are not backing down and we will now escalate the industrial action until local authorities start negotiating with us.”