Council workers set to strike

2:31pm Saturday 5th July 2008

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PICKET lines will be formed across the borough next week when Hillingdon Council workers go on strike over a pay row.

Around 1,000 council employees including librarians, refuse collectors and social workers will protest over this year's below inflation pay offer of 2.45 per cent.

The members of Unison who are set to strike on Wednesday, July 16 and Thursday, July 17, say the dispute can easily be resolved if a decent pay offer is agreed.

Stuart Barber, Unison regional officer for Hillingdon, said: "The issue is what has been offered is not good enough.

"Our members have enough to deal with, with the rising cost of bills.

"More importantly our members have accepted nearly equal to inflation levels of pay and now enough is enough.

"This could have been avoided if negotiations were reached, which would have prevented the impact on services."

Mr Barber confirmed that workers are set to form picket lines outside the Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge and Harlington Road Depot during the 48-hour walk out.

Dave Prentis, general secretary for Unison, said: "This decision has not been taken lightly, but years of pay cuts and recent hikes on fuel, food and housing costs has left them with little choice.

"The employers must realise we mean business. They must also understand they can resolve this dispute by coming up with a decent offer.

"Our members are loyal public service workers and our case for pay is strong."

Christopher Neale, director of finance and resources: "Hillingdon Council have not yet been given formal notification of industrial action although with the national announcements we have begun contingency planning for two days of strike action on July 16 and 17. This may involve a number of council staff.

"We hope to be able to provide more details to the public of the expected impact on services as early as possible before the strike action to minimise any disruption to services."

Workers are still to decide whether they will set up several picket lines across the borough or have a mass protest outside the Civic Centre.