UNISON, the biggest town hall union, is consulting branches on a pay claim of 5% or £500 for 1998. Lethargy from national level is intended to ensure that there is no enthusiasm for the claim, and therefore little opposition to the paltry straightforward percentage claim that is likely to be offered.
UNISON officials have also tried to bury a Conference decision to submit a claim for improved conditions — including the 35 hour week and improved maternity and parental leave — by recommending to branches that they should not support proposals to improve conditions of service in 1998 because the employers won’t agree!