Local authority workers take the first national strike action in 20 years today, with the prospect of further industrial action ahead.

The GMB has also published a survey showing that some top council leaders have accepted increases in their personal allowances of up to 148 per cent, at the same time as calling on council staff to accept pay rises of three per cent.

Forum Response: Unison

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, told ePolitix.com: "It is shameful that the government seems to be standing on the sidelines and doing nothing to prevent the first ever national strike of local government workers. They should stop sticking their heads in the sand and pretending this strike has nothing to do with them.

"The Local Government Employers' Organisation say they cannot afford to meet our claim, but if the government increased the total grant to local authorities by just 2.1 per cent they could meet Unison's claim in full.

"Of course extra spending on health and education is vital but they ignore local government at their peril. There is no doubt that local councils need extra funding, because every day of every week, every single person in this country relies on local government services in some way.

"Children rely on nursery nurses, teaching assistants and dinner ladies, the vulnerable, sick and elderly need home care, meals-on-wheels staff and social workers and everyone benefits from access to libraries, parks and leisure centres and it is local government workers who empty our bins and keep the streets clean."

Forum Response: GMB

John Edmonds, general secretary of the GMB, told ePolitix.com: "The greed of the new breed of town hall fat cats is matched only by their hypocrisy. How can Labour council leaders accept such staggering pay increases at the same time as demanding 'pay restraint' from some of the lowest paid workers in the country.

"It's no wonder ministers went to such incredible lengths to stop news of these pay hikes leaking out."