LOCAL government workers last night defied their union’s leadership and voted to reopen pay negotiations for the coming year.

The decision at a special conference of Unison’s local government sector came as activists expressed anger at the settlement of their dispute in October, when a national strike was called off.

Reps passed a motion branding senior officers’ decision to cancel the strike a “complete denial” of union protocols.

The motion, supported by the union’s north-west region, demands that the protocols be amended to include a minimum requirement for an email consultation of reps.

It also “determines that with immediate effect there shall be the opportunity for at least one elected lay representative” in negotiations and decision-making forums.

A second leadership-backed motion affirming members’ acceptance of a 2.2 per cent two-year pay deal was passed — but it was altered to say that balloting on offers that were not firm was contrary to union procedures.

A controversial further motion was passed instructing the sector negotiators to “formally submit ... an additional NJC pay claim for the 2015-16 pay round” with the living wage forming the minimum demand.

Members were reportedly told that their demands were branded “unrealistic” by councils that had already said they would refuse to reopen negotiations.

Unison executive member Jon Rogers said the vote marked “a step in the right direction.”

The conference “has now set Unison on a course to campaign for better pay both now and in the future, rather than only in the future,” Mr Rogers wrote on his blog.

“Today was a good day for trade unionism and for democracy.”

The Star contacted Unison for comment.