UNIONS recommended that hundreds of thousands of local government workers reject another take-home pay cut today.

GMB warned strikes could follow if the 100,000 carers, school staff, social workers and refuse collectors it represents vote against a £1,925 wage deal for 2023-24 in its six-week ballot opening at the end of the month.

The proposal from employers – worth about 9 per cent for the lowest-paid but just 4 per cent for other staff – was also slammed by Unison, which said the offer “falls well short of what’s needed after years of cuts.”