THREE of the major trade unions will be holding a co-ordinated strike for local Government and school staff members in October.

Unison, Unite and GMB have agreed to escalate their dispute over pay by taking industrial action on Tuesday, October 14.

The strike will take place a few days before the Trades Union Congress (TUC) organised national demonstration over pay on October 18.

Unions want the Government to engage in further talks to resolve the pay dispute and have say they are not content with what is currently being offered to workers.

The current offer would see an increase of 1 per cent and, according to unions, pay has declined by 20 per cent since 2010.

Ravi Subramanian, Unison West Midlands regional secretary, said: “Employers and Government must be left in no doubt that we are serious in this dispute.

“As sister unions, we stand together to make sure that our members are treated with decency and respect.

“Our members cannot afford to carry on propping up local services through their pay packets.”

Brian Strutton, GMB national secretary, said: “Our members in GMB, Unison and Unite expect us to maximise our joint effectiveness and that's why we are announcing the next strike together.

“Our members deserve a fair pay deal and we have to fight together to achieve that.”

Fiona Farmer, Unite national officer, said: “Local government workers have had years of real pay cuts, working harder to deliver vital local services while being paid less and struggling to make ends meet.

“Low paid members, unable to afford basis essentials, are having to choose between heating and eating.”

The announcement comes a month after the previous nationwide strike on July 10 and unions said no further talks have taken place since that date.