UNION members at three Welsh councils have announced strike action next month after rejecting a pay offer as unacceptable.

Unite Wales members at both Cardiff and Wrexham councils will start continuous strike action from September 4-17 and will be joined by workers at Gwynedd Council who will strike from September 11-17.

The strike has been called after members overwhelmingly rejected the local authority employers’ pay offer of just £1,925, a poorer offer than last year, despite the cost-of-living crisis having worsened.

Unite members at Cynon Valley Waste have also voted for strike action, with dates for their action to be finalised.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Welsh council workers are on the front line providing vital services to communities across Wales.”

Unite has members across every department within Welsh councils and says the strikes will have a major impact on refuse collections and recycling centres.

Regional secretary Peter Hughes said: “The current pay offer to Welsh council workers is a slap in the face and would see pay levels further eroded. 

“Unless an improved pay offer is forthcoming, this industrial action will only escalate as we head into the autumn months.”

The strikes will start just before a meeting with Finance Minister Rebecca Evans of the Wales Social Partnership Forum, which will include the Wales TUC general council, to discuss the worsening financial crisis in Wales.

First Minister Mark Drakeford told the Morning Star in an exclusive interview last month that his administration faced a £900 million black hole in its finances and would need to make cuts to its spending plans.

Mr Drakeford’s cabinet has been meeting during the Senedd’s summer recess to discuss where the axe will fall across the public sector and has called the crisis meeting with the WTUC.

Following the initial September strikes, Unite is planning to escalate the action throughout the autumn, with co-ordinated action, longer periods of strikes, and with more members joining the dispute.

“Unite never takes a backward step in supporting its members and will be providing its local authority members with its complete support,” Mr Hughes said.