Thousands of local government staff in Brighton and Hove are voting on industrial action this month.

The issue is clear - getting the pay they deserve. One family-centre worker told Unison: "I'm in a Catch 22. I can't get decent housing because I don't earn enough but I'm not actually homeless so I don't get help.

"I have to work long hours to survive but don't like being away from home when my young children get back from school. I love my job and the children

"I work with but increasing financial difficulties mean I'm being left with no choice but to look for something better paid or leave town."

According to a Unison survey by NOP, more than two-thirds of local government workers considered leaving their jobs in the past year, 58 per cent of whom cite "feeling undervalued" as the main reason.

The high profits made in Brighton and Hove are built on the lowest wages in the South East but our members in local government earn 25 per cent less even than this, on average.

Brighton and Hove Unison's report on low pay and housing recently showed house prices are higher than in 13 London boroughs and terraced houses are 47 per cent higher than the average for the South East.

Staff continue to keep services going with unpaid overtime that is itself worth more than our pay claim, which is for 6 per cent or £1,750 over the year. Goodwill is exhausted.

Our women members in schools and care work are particularly hard hit and it's a disgrace the gender pay-gap is widening compared to men in the rest of the economy.

MPs gave themselves 8 per cent and a whacking pension and Brighton and Hove city councillors now cost nearly £1 million.

It's time to do the decent thing by the staff. We are asking the public to support our action for a fair deal for local government workers - and let's give a kick-start to a campaign to root out low pay in the rest of the city.

-Steve Foster, Brighton and Hove Unison