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Medway Council workers protest outside headquarters in Chatham over pay row

18:48, 23 February 2023

updated: 20:55, 23 February 2023

Council workers are protesting outside a budget-setting meeting tonight in a row over pay.

Staff from Medway Council are holding a demonstration the local authority's headquarters at the St George's Centre in Chatham.

It comes after UNISON, which represents the council workers, submitted a claim for a £2,000 wage increase for the 2023/24 financial year.

Papers for the council meeting show councillors will vote this evening on a much lower pay rise of just £1,000 this year.

Staff are concerned this will represent a "significant pay cut" because most measures of inflation remain above 10%.

Protests outside St Georges Centre in Chatham ahead of Medway Council's budget meeting. Picture: Katie May Nelson (62623387)
Protests outside St Georges Centre in Chatham ahead of Medway Council's budget meeting. Picture: Katie May Nelson (62623387)

The demonstration started at around 5.30pm and involves affected workers from across the council.

It includes admin staff, social workers, environmental health officers, librarians, and school support staff.

Medway Council is different to the majority of local authorities as it sets pay locally and is not part of National Joint Council (NJC).

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