Beach and street cleaning and business and household waste collections to stop

Great Yarmouth bin and street cleaning workers, along with landscaping workers and grave diggers, will strike later this week, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today.

Around 100 workers will strike over poverty pay, as most earn pennies above the minimum wage. In comparison, wages for staff doing the same jobs in Norwich, Broadland and Lowestoft are 20 per cent higher. (See notes to editors for quotes from workers)

Even though the council has repeatedly claimed that it could not negotiate on pay, it made an improved offer last week. However, it was insufficient for the workers to accept. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Great Yarmouth Services workers do hard unpleasant work whatever the weather to keep the town clean and tidy. Despite this, they receive poverty wages that are leaving them struggling to keep their heads above water.

“Unite is backing them 100 per cent in demanding a rate of pay that reflects their hard work.”

The workers previously took strike action for five days at the beginning of August. The next round of strikes will take place from Wednesday (26 August) to Friday (28 August). Industrial action will intensify if the dispute is not resolved.

Seafront businesses will not have their waste collected, litter bins will go unemptied and street cleaning services, including at the beach, will not go ahead. Household waste collections will also stop.

Unite regional officer Andreas Kuchner said: “The council’s latest offer failed to resolve the dispute and the significant cost-of-living pressures these workers are under.

“It needs to listen and come back with an improved deal or bear responsibility for this dispute continuing to escalate.”

The dispute also includes members of the UNISON and GMB unions.

Great Yarmouth Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Great Yarmouth council.

ENDS

Unite is keeping workers anonymous to prevent repercussions from their employer.

One worker said: “I’ve had to take an evening job as I can’t afford to buy food at the end of the month on this wage.”

Another said: "I work really hard but I am getting further and further into debt because my wages are so low. My pay simply does not stretch to cover outgoings for feeding my family and paying the bills and rent." 

A third said: “I’ve had to take a second job just to pay off my loan as my monthly pay doesn’t cover all my bills.”

A fourth said: "Money is tight all the time - everything goes on essentials even though I'm working a full time, demanding job. I'm angry at the council because it shouldn't be such a struggle to take the kids on a day out or treat them occasionally."