Council workers providing essential services through the health crisis to the residents of Thurrock will strike for three weeks because of Thurrock Council’s plans to brutally cut their pay and conditions. 

Refuse workers, highway maintenance and street cleaners will take strike action from Tuesday 13 April until Friday 7 May, excluding 3 May. 

The very workers who have been supporting residents, by providing key services throughout the current health crisis, are furious that they are now the target of proposed cuts of between £2,000 - £3,500 a year for refuse workers, highway maintenance and street cleaners.  Meanwhile, the council has not proposed any cuts to the pay and conditions of senior management. Lyn Carpenter, the chief executive earns almost £200,000 a year. https://www.yourthurrock.com/2019/04/09/thurrock-council-rich-list-exposes-top-bosses-pay/

Unite regional officer Michelle Cook said: "Unite will not accept these proposals to slash the pay of these council heroes who have provided essential services to the residents of Thurrock throughout this pandemic.  

"We have given the council months to rethink these brutal pay cuts which will leave key workers struggling to make ends meet.  The council appears to be prepared to disrupt its residents' key services and attack its employees' conditions. Chief Executive, Lyn Carpenter has a small window of opportunity to prevent this strike. We hope she will get around the negotiating table to avoid this dispute."

ENDS