Brighton and Hove social workers strike over pay

Social workers in Brighton and Hove are staging industrial action over pay for the second time

Social workers began a two-day walk out on Thursday in a dispute with Brighton & Hove City Council.

The dispute is over pay and follows industrial action in November.

The social workers are calling for a 12.5% increase, which the union Unison said would bring them into line with other city employees who work with children.

Brighton & Hove City Council said it remained in contact with the union to try and find a solution, but said it could not afford to meet the pay demand.

Corinna Edwards-Colledge, Brighton and Hove Unison joint branch secretary, said: “With the cost of living in the city being one of the highest in the UK, many are also struggling to survive financially.

"A student social worker can spend up to 70% of their wages on rent, and many are taking home as little as £11 an hour after tax.

“The last thing our members want to do is strike, but escalating this dispute is the only way to protect jobs and services.

"The council should be engaging with us, and we remain ready and willing to enter meaningful negotiations.”

The chair of the council’s adult social care and public health sub-committee, Tristram Burden, said: “Since the last strike day we have remained in regular contact and exchanged information with our trade unions.

“We want to try to find a workable solution to the current dispute.

“We remain clear that we cannot award a 12.5% market supplement to our social workers.

“But we acknowledge the impact the strike is having on staff morale and motivation in the council, and we are keen to get this resolved as quickly as we can.

“We are actively working on a proposal we will discuss with Unison early in 2024.”