A week of strikes will hit Breckland and North Norfolk bin collections and street cleaning unless workers get the pay they deserve, UNISON warns today.
One hundred refuse, grounds maintenance, street cleaning and cleansing staff working for Serco across the two councils will down tools for a week from 13 March, says the union.
Earlier this month, 99% of workers backed strikes over the multimillion-pound firm’s refusal to make a pay offer that keeps track with the cost of living.
The vote forced Serco to “tweak” its offer, but workers have now decided that the change would not be enough to cope with the rising cost of living and years where the value of their wages has fallen massively.
UNISON is urging Serco to come back to the table and make a meaningful offer to avoid strikes.
UNISON Eastern regional organiser Cameron Matthews said: “It’s a real shame that Serco can’t dip into its incredibly deep pockets to pay its workers in Breckland and North Norfolk a fair wage.
“Unfortunately Serco seems willing to hit both workers and residents in their hard-headed desire to keep wages down.
“We urge the firm to come back around the negotiating table with a new, fair deal so we can avoid these strikes.”
Show your support
Sign our petition to Serco, Breckland Council and North Norfolk Council urging them to pay refuse, grounds maintenance, street cleaning and cleansing staff properly.
You can send messages of solidarity to the workers by emailing UNISON Eastern regional organiser Cameron Matthews.
