Nursery World - Public supports strike aims of council staff

* The public has given strong support in three separate opinion polls to last month's strikes by 750,000 local government workers, including nursery nurses and classroom assistants. A Sky News poll found that 76 per cent of people nationally supported the strikes for higher pay in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while 90 per cent of people surveyed in a regional poll for the BBC in Leicestershire backed the action of members of the TGWU, GMB and Unison unions.

A Sky News poll found that 76 per cent of people nationally supported the strikes for higher pay in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while 90 per cent of people surveyed in a regional poll for the BBC in Leicestershire backed the action of members of the TGWU, GMB and Unison unions.

A Guardian/ICM telephone poll asked members of the public their opinions on industrial action by council, rail and tube workers. Fifty-nine per cent of people questioned said they believed the strikes were justified. Just 29 per cent opposed the strikes.

Local government workers are seeking a 6 per cent pay rise, but pay talks are currently at an impasse.

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