Nearly 150 workers employed by Greenwich council will go on strike today after the local authority brought in plans to cut their wages.
A Greenwich council spokesperson said the council has done a pay benchmarking exercise and found some of the salaries of their repairs staff are ‘well above industry average’.
The spokesperson said the council had proposed a new pay structure to the trade union Unite which was rejected and met with a ‘counteroffer of a £60,000 lump sum per employee, on top of above average wages.’
‘This offer is unreasonable, unaffordable and frankly unrealistic – and unfair on staff who have engaged in productive conversations to this point and deserve clarity,’ the spokesperson said.
The cuts, which would be enacted in stages over four years, will see some workers lose nearly £17,000 from their salary by the fourth year, according to the union.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: ‘Greenwich council's plans are a brutal and unjustified attack on our members' living standards. Many will be left unable to fulfil their financial obligations such as paying their mortgages and rent. Others will be forced into debt.
‘Unite never tolerates attacks on our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and the workers at Greenwich will receive the union's unflinching support in defeating the council's plans.’
