Trade union Unite has become the third trade union representing town hall staff to join the mass walkout planned for 10 July.

Union chiefs claim up to 2 million public sector staff, including local government employees and teachers, will take part in industrial action on Thursday 10 July in protest at continued pay restraint.

Unite has 70,000 local government members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and voted by 68% to take strike action and by 79% to take industrial action short of a strike.