Refuse collection workers in the London Boroughs of Croydon and Bromley have announced that they will be on strike for three days next week, after a disagreement over pay.

The 326 workers, employed by Veolia Environmental Services UK plc, are members of Unite, the country’s largest union, and will be striking on Tuesday (2 July) until Thursday (4 July).

The strike follows talks between workers and Veolia over pay, with workers seeking a rise in line with the current retail price index (RPI) of 3.1 per cent. However, the workers have rejected Veolia’s offer of a two per cent rise, saying it was a “paltry pay offer” and in “stark contrast” to the £121 million of profits reported by Veolia for the year ending December 2011.

There are now concerns that the dispute over pay could spread to Unite members in Camden, also employed by Veolia, who have also rejected the two per cent offer in a consultative ballot. Unite has said that the Camden workers could also be balloted for industrial action, if the dispute is not settled.

Pay should ‘reflect the hard work that contributes to profitability’

Speaking of the strike, Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “What Veolia is offering is in reality a pay cut - workers’ wages are not matching the cost of living. Household bills, food and travel are all getting more expensive.

“Veolia’s managers are always telling us that the company is broke, but the company’s accounts reveal it is a very profitable business. Yet our members on £18,000 to £20,000 a year, who help generate these profits, are offered a paltry pay offer.

“We urge the management to come to the negotiating table before next week’s strikes and make our members a fair and decent offer that reflects the hard work that contributes to the company’s profitability.

“Otherwise, there could be more strikes in Croydon and Bromley and the real possibility of strikes in Camden.”

However, Councillor Phil Thomas, Croydon Council’s cabinet member for highways and environmental services, commented that the vote to strike was only decided by 36 of the 300-strong staff, and won by a “small majority of eight”.

He said: “Only 36 out of their 300 staff took part in this ballot and the vote in favour was only won by a small majority of eight. I’m sure this reflects the fact that many people are currently coping with pay freezes, so a two per cent increase, whilst still slightly below inflation, will still be seen as welcome.

“Our top priority right now is to make sure that Veoila have contingency plans in place so that the votes of a small minority of their staff don’t disrupt our waste and recycling collections to any great extent."

The London strike follows on from a seven-day strike over pay by refuse collection workers in Brighton and Hove.

The GMB trade union workers have now agreed to suspend any further action for the next month, whilst they are in negotiations with Bright and Hove City Council and to consult its members on any proposals put forward.