Tower Hamlets also has the power to end its ongoing refuse strike

The decision by Unite members to stage industrial action has secured a council wide pay deal of an extra £750 for all low paid Newham council workers.

Meanwhile rubbish is continuing to pile up across Tower Hamlets where workers are taking strike action for a month. The deal reached at Newham points the way to a resolution at Tower Hamlets.

105 refuse workers from Newham rejected the national pay offer of a flat rate increase of £1,925. The workers in Newham were due to walkout between 25 September and 22 October.

Strike action was averted after members of Unite secured improved terms and conditions on top of the Local Government Association national pay deal. All workers on grades 1-3 will receive the £750 payment.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Unite members are staging a fightback. As a result, low paid workers across the whole of Newham council have secured a payment of £750.

“It just goes to show what workers can achieve when supported with the full force of their union, Unite, and a council that is prepared to listen.

“This is a clear message to Tower Hamlets that the council has the power to end the ongoing strike.”

The national agreement for local government workers sets out minimum standards and local authorities can pay a higher rate to workers if they wish to do so.

Newham council have agreed to:

  1. A one-off cost of living payment of £750 to the lowest paid workers across the council (grades 1-3)
  2. A continued retention payment to HGV drivers up to 2026
  3. permanent jobs given to agency workers in refuse department
  4. A council commitment work with Unite to review the night shift premium and refuse worker grading
  5. Improvements to local consultation processes

ENDS

Contact: Ciaran Naidoo 07768 931 315 

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