A Sussex-wide strike over pay could shut council offices, schools, libraries, and social services in July.

In an "indicative" ballot of the 3,400 Unison members employed by Brighton and Hove City Council, staff voted overwhelming in favour of rejecting the pay increase.

The branch voted by a margin of 12 to 1 to reject the 2.45% pay rise proposed by a nationwide committee - the highest margin recorded anywhere in England and Wales.

In East Sussex, the branch said there was clearly "a lot of unhappiness" about the pay offer from National Employers Organisation but the vote was a close call. West Sussex said the figures were not yet available.

Union members are asking for a 6 per cent rise with an additional lump sum for low paid staff.

A formal ballot on general and selective strike action will now take place across the country in late May or early June.

If staff vote in favour of industrial action, it will take place in early July. Council offices, schools, libraries, and social services would be affected, although the union said it will talk with councils about ìlife and limbî cover. Alex Knutsen, branch secretary, said: ìOur members are council employees, but also council tax payers.

"They have mortgages, use their cars for work in many cases, and work even harder to prop up underfunded services.

"This year a line is being drawn in the sand, and we will fight for a decent pay rise to reflect the dedication staff give to the people of the city on a daily basis.

"To strike is a last resort, but the blame lies with our National Employers and a Government that sees fit to interfere with negotiating a fair pay outcome." Brian Baldwin, chairman of the employersí negotiating team, said: "Any settlement has to be affordable both to the taxpayer and councils while at the same time making sure that local government continues to be an attractive place to work.

"If the pay settlement is set too high, councils will be forced into making unpalatable choices between cutting front line services and laying off staff.

"Neither unions nor employers want either of these options.

"This final offer is fair, affordable and consistent with the government's current public sector pay policy"

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: "This is of course a national rather than a local dispute.

"We're hoping for the sake residents that it doesn't come to a strike.

"If it does we'll be looking where possible to put in place measures to minimise impact on services, especially those for vulnerable people."

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