Local government workers who are members of the Unite union have voted to accept a revised pay deal worth just under 2.5%.
The union confirmed that in a consultative ballot, 57% voted to accept the employers’ offer, which had been increased from 2% after the threat of a strike ballot.
“This is a clear result from our members, but equally it comes with a clear message that it has been accepted grudgingly rather than being embraced,” said Peter Allenson, Unite national organiser for public services.
“We will be making it clear to the employers that the way they have dealt with this pay round means they are in real danger of becoming an employer of last resort,” he warned.
A separate ballot of hundreds of thousands of Unison members is set to take place to establish whether industrial action should begin over the low pay offer.
The Local Government Employers body has said the unions should “pause for thought” before embarking on any strike action.
