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Housing workers at London council poised for strike action
More than 120 housing repairs workers at a London council are threatening strike action after the introduction of a new pay system which a union claims could see individuals losing thousands in wages.
Carpenters, decorators, electricians and plumbers directly employed by Greenwich Council and represented by Unite the Union accused the council of acting in bad faith over a new pay system.
Unite said the new system could see individual workers lose up to £20,000 a year in wages, with its members earning between £35,000 and £55,000.
The union also claimed that the council had reneged on a previous agreement on pay and is using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to push through the wage cut.
Greenwich Council said it is engaged in positive negotiations with unions over the changes.
The employees voted by 98% in favour of strike action, but Unite said it is now allowing “breathing space” for last-ditch talks to avert the announcement of strike dates.
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Onay Kasab, regional officer at Unite, said: “However you slice this, to lose about £20,000 a year, living and working in one of the world’s most expensive cities, is totally unacceptable.
“The council now has a window of opportunity to row back from its hardline stance and negotiate a fair settlement, otherwise we will announce strike dates for the new year which will cause havoc to the maintenance programme of the council’s housing stock.”
Danny Hoggan, Unite branch secretary for Greenwich, said the results of the vote represent a “huge mandate” and urged the council to make a decision.
A spokesperson for the council said: “The Royal Borough of Greenwich is engaged in very constructive and positive negotiations with all three of our recognised trade unions to improve the old productivity agreement for our repairs staff.
“These were last updated in 2013, and so we are hopeful that we can agree terms that reward good productive work for staff and the best possible repairs service for the residents of the borough.”
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