A BALLOT held to see whether North Somerset Council employees will take strike action in a pay dispute closed on Friday. UNISON is asking its members at the Town Hall to act after they were offered what it says is a below inflation wage increase. The publ

A BALLOT held to see whether North Somerset Council employees will take strike action in a pay dispute closed on Friday.UNISON is asking its members at the Town Hall to act after they were offered what it says is a below inflation wage increase.The public sector trade union said: "Our members are delivering, year on year, efficiency gains which help keep the level of council tax rises down, and yet our pay falls behind every year."Council leader Councillor Nigel Ashton was branded a 'bully' by the union two weeks ago after an email sent in his name told employees they would receive a pay rise of 2.475 per cent backdated to April before Christmas if they voted against industrial action.Another senior councillor, Elfan Ap Rees, said at the time: "If employees strike they won't get the pay increase before Christmas because there will be no agreement.