Unite Members at Wirral and Liverpool Councils Vote on Strike Over Pay 2026

Key Points

• Workers at Wirral Council and three other Merseyside authorities could join thousands striking after rejecting a 3.3% pay offer from national employers.
• Unite the Union is running a month-long ballot for strike action, open from 16 July to 17 August 2026.
• The union says the 3.3% offer is a “real-terms pay cut” and claims it was not involved in negotiations with national employers.
• Roles being balloted include waste and bin collectors, street cleaners, street lighting staff, teaching assistants and home care workers.
• 24 councils and authorities across the UK are involved in targeted ballots, including Wirral, Liverpool City Council, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds and others.
• Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, said council workers have faced “over a decade of pathetic pay deals” and that the union will back their fight for fair pay.
• Clare Keogh, Unite’s national officer for local authorities, warned that strike action would have a huge impact on services but blamed national employers for refusing to negotiate.
• The LDRS contacted Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton and Knowsley councils and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for comment.

 Wirral Council (Liverpool standard) July 10, 2026 – Workers at uk/local/wirral-council/">Wirral Council and three other Merseyside authorities could be among thousands of council staff across the UK to stage strike action after rejecting a 3.3% pay offer, with Unite the Union launching a targeted ballot for possible walkouts starting on 16 July.

What Is Happening at Wirral and Other Merseyside Councils?

Members of Unite the Union employed by Wirral Council, Liverpool City Council, Sefton Council and Knowsley Council are among those balloted for strike action, alongside staff from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The workers being balloted perform essential roles, including waste and bin collections, street cleaning, street lighting maintenance, teaching assistance and home care. These functions are central to day-to-day life in the Liverpool City Region, meaning any disruption would directly affect residents and local services.

The national employers responsible for setting council workers’ pay have offered a 3.3% increase, which Unite says fails to address years of below-inflation pay deals and pay freezes.

As reported by a Unite the Union spokesperson, the union described the offer as a “real-terms pay cut” because it does not match recent inflation and comes after more than a decade of weak pay deals. The union also stated it was not involved in any negotiations with national employers over the offer.

How Is Unite the Union Responding?

Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, said: “Council workers are struggling to keep their heads above water after over a decade of pathetic pay deals.”

She added that employers were “again trying to cut the real terms pay of workers instead of investing in our members, who do vital jobs in our communities,” and that Unite would not allow “another paltry pay deal inflicted on them.” Graham confirmed that the union gives its members “full backing in their fight for fair pay.”

Clare Keogh, Unite’s national officer for local authorities, warned that strike action “will have a huge impact on the council services communities depend on.”

However, she argued that such disruption is “entirely the fault of national employers refusing to negotiate,” noting that council workers have faced years of real-term pay cuts imposed without meaningful negotiation.

Which Authorities Are Involved in the Ballot?

The 24 Councils and Authorities

The month-long ballot covers 24 councils and authorities across the UK. In addition to Wirral, Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley, the list includes:

• Great Yarmouth
• North East Lincolnshire
• South Tyneside
• Blackburn with Darwen Borough
• Bolton
• Cumberland
• Oldham
• Warrington
• Westmorland and Furness
• Bristol
• Cardiff
• Durham
• Haringey
• Leeds
• Hampshire County Council
• Portsmouth
• Southampton
• Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

Nature and Timing of the Ballot

The ballots are described as “targeted” in nature, meaning they are not blanket strikes across all councils but are focused on specific authorities where union members have indicated strong opposition to the pay offer.

The ballot period opens on 16 July 2026 and closes on 17 August 2026, giving workers just over a month to vote on whether to proceed with strike action. More local authorities could join the dispute at a later date if similar conditions arise.

What Have the Councils Said So Far?

Efforts to Get Responses

The LDRS contacted Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton and Knowsley councils seeking comment on Unite’s statement and the possibility of strike action.

In addition, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority was approached for a response to the union’s claims about the pay offer and the lack of negotiation. As of the time of reporting, no detailed public responses from these bodies were included in the available coverage.

Context of Local Funding Pressures

Separate reporting on the Liverpool City Region has previously highlighted severe funding pressures linked to both long-term austerity and the impact of the pandemic. In 2020, local leaders warned of a potential funding “black-hole” of nearly £250m after councils spent an extra £10m a week to protect residents during Covid-19.

Liverpool City Council itself has faced claims that its funding from central government has dropped by about 65% since 2010, contributing to multiple rounds of budget cuts and service reviews in recent years. These pressures provide background context for why pay disputes are emerging in councils that have already struggled with reduced resources.

How Could This Development Affect Local Residents and Workers?

Impact on Services and Communities

If the ballot results in strike action, residents in Wirral, Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley could face disruption to everyday services such as bin collections, street cleaning and street lighting maintenance. Households may need to adjust bin disposal routines, and some streets could temporarily lack cleaning or lighting maintenance.

Teaching assistants and home care staff participating in strikes could also affect schools and vulnerable adults who rely on supported care, potentially increasing pressure on families and local education providers. Clare Keogh warned that such disruption would be significant, but argued it reflects the failure of national employers to negotiate fairly.

Implications for Council Employees

For council employees, a successful ballot and subsequent strikes could strengthen the union’s position in future pay negotiations, potentially leading to improved offers if employers respond to the pressure.

However, strikes also carry risks for workers, including possible loss of pay during strike days and the potential for strained relationships with management, depending on how the dispute is handled. The outcome of the ballot will determine whether workers proceed to formal strike action and how long any disruption lasts.

Background: Council Pay, Funding and the Liverpool City Region Context

The dispute at Wirral and other Merseyside councils is not isolated but fits into a longer pattern of strain on local government finance and pay in the UK. National employers set a single pay offer for council workers across the country, which has faced repeated criticism from unions for not matching inflation and for continuing a trend of weak pay deals.

In the Liverpool City Region, local leaders have previously warned that the area has faced disproportionate impacts from both austerity and the pandemic. In 2020, councils in the region estimated they would need around £341m over six months to manage health, economic and social costs of Covid-19, with only £100m allocated so far from central government, creating a potential funding gap of nearly £250m.

Liverpool City Council has also reported that its central government funding fell by about 65% since 2010, leading to repeated budget cuts, new charges (such as an annual green bin fee) and reviews of services including libraries and school transport. These long-term pressures help explain why union members in the region are particularly sensitive to pay offers that do not reflect real-term changes in living costs.

Prediction: How This Development Could Affect the Particular Audience

For Residents of Wirral and the Liverpool City Region

If the ballot leads to strike action, residents in Wirral, Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley could experience short-to-medium term disruptions to essential services such as waste collection and street cleaning. Households may need to adjust bin disposal routines, and some streets could temporarily lack cleaning or lighting maintenance.

Over time, however, if strikes lead to a better pay deal and renewed negotiation, the same residents could benefit from improved staffing levels and more stable service delivery, as unions argue that fair pay is necessary to retain and motivate workers.

For Council Workers and Their Families

For council employees in Wirral and the wider region, a successful ballot and strikes could increase the likelihood of a more favourable pay offer in future negotiations, potentially improving household incomes after years of real-term pay cuts.

Conversely, if strikes do not produce a significant improvement, workers may face continued financial pressure and the stress of prolonged disputes, with possible impacts on morale and job satisfaction. The outcome of the July–August ballot will therefore be a key determinant of whether this dispute becomes a short-term action or a longer-running campaign for fair pay in local government.