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Manchester maintenance workers in fresh strikes ballots
Social housing maintenance workers in Manchester are to vote on another round of strikes in a long-running dispute over pay.
Manchester maintenance workers in fresh strikes ballots Employees of private contractor Mears and Manchester Working – a joint venture with Manchester City Council operated by Mears – have spent 40 days on the picket line this summer.
Unite, which organised the previous strikes, is now balloting its members for further action.
It claims workers are being paid up to £3,500 differently for the same job, as well as a host of other complaints about conditions.
A spokesperson for Mears said: “As we have said before, we have made several attractive offers to Unite, who have shown no willingness to negotiate or in moving forward. Despite this, we continue to maintain good services for our understanding customers and clients.”
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The workers handle maintenance and repairs for Manchester City Council’s ALMO Northwards Housing, which manages more than 13,000 homes.
Fresh strikes are expected to begin in November if union members vote for further industrial action.
Andy Fisher, regional co-ordinating officer at Unite, said: “Unite members at Mears and Manchester Working are entirely dedicated to resolving their long-standing grievances with their employers.
“Unite has given Mears every opportunity to resolve this dispute and Mears has entirely failed to do so. As a result Unite has no option but to ask our members to once again take strike action.”
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