Darlington Borough Council workers are due to take strike action in a dispute over pay.

Members of the Unite union have overwhelmingly rejected £1,925 pay offers from local authorities, which the union said was a poorer offer than last year, despite the cost-of-living crisis having worsened.

The industrial action will involve Unite members at 20 local authorities throughout England, with the first strikes taking place next Wednesday and Thursday (August 30 and 31).

Other councils with industrial action mandates will then take strike action throughout September.

The Northern Echo: There are believed to be around 50 Unite members in Darlington but it is not yet clear what effect the strike will have on the authority.There are believed to be around 50 Unite members in Darlington but it is not yet clear what effect the strike will have on the authority. (Image: The Northern Echo)

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There are believed to be about 50 Unite members in Darlington but it is not yet clear what effect the strike will have on the authority. Darlington Borough Council said it could not comment as no strike dates have been set. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Council workers are on the frontline providing vital services to the communities they serve.

“It is simply unacceptable that workers have been forced onto the breadline due to years of real terms pay cuts.

“Unite never takes a backward step in supporting its members and is dedicated to enhancing their jobs, pay and conditions.

“Unite will be providing its local authority members with its complete support.”

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Strike dates in Darlington are not set but are expected to take place in the second half of September. 

The English councils that have secured mandates for strike action are: Darlington, North Tyneside, Bath and North East Somerset, Chesterfield, Coventry, Cumberland, Haringey, Ipswich, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Truro, Sefton, Southwark, Warrington, Westminster and Wigan.