LOCAL government staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland could be set to strike after three-quarters voted to reject another below-inflation pay offer, Unite warned today.

Those covering many front-line roles — including refuse collection workers, housing employees and care staff — overwhelmingly rejected a wage offer for 2023-24 worth between 3.8 and 9.4 per cent.

All the workers face a “further substantial real-terms pay cut” with the retail price index inflation rate at a 40-year high of 13.5 per cent, the union said.