Refuse workers in Great Yarmouth are voting on whether to strike as part of a pay dispute with the local council.
Around 100 household waste, street cleaning, and grounds maintenance staff are taking part in the ballot.
Unite the Union says workers in the dispute, which also includes members of the UNISON and GMB unions, would ‘not earn the minimum wage’ under the current 3.3% offer from the council.
The workers are employed by Great Yarmouth Services (GYS Ltd), a wholly owned subsidiary of Great Yarmouth Council.
A spokesperson for GYS Ltd said the company was ‘extremely disappointed’ at the prospect of strike action and accused Unite of ‘threatening to harm the quality of life of residents and visitors as a negotiating tool’.
“Unite has demanded a 20% pay rise for all staff, which is unprecedented and not in line with the same union’s national pay demands,” the spokesperson claimed.
Circular Online has approached Unite for comment.
The spokesperson continued: “When GYS Ltd was set up, it was agreed by all parties that pay must match the National Joint Council (NJC) award. This is a national system that decides increases.”
“The pay talks happen at a national level, not locally, which means that annual pay rises cannot be locally negotiated.”
The spokesperson claimed that implementing a 20% pay raise for GYS staff would cost about £1 million a year, which they said is ‘not affordable’ and would lead to reduced services to ‘foot the bill’.
They also highlighted staff benefits, such as increases to annual leave, a new sick pay scheme, and an increase to pension contributions, which they said cost ‘almost £300,000 a year’.
Unite has also claimed that when GYS Ltd workers raised complaints about the pay offer, they were told by council officials that they were ‘lucky to have this as Great Yarmouth is a low wage, poverty area’ and they ‘should work for Sainsburys or Tesco’ if they are unhappy.
The GYS Ltd spokesperson refuted the claims and said all discussions on pay have been conducted respectfully.
Commenting on the dispute, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Great Yarmouth Council is not even offering the majority of these workers a real pay rise – in effect, the council is saying they should be grateful it is even paying them the minimum wage.”
“This is appalling behaviour towards staff doing dirty, difficult work in all weathers who are critical to the running of the town. Unite is backing these workers 100%.”