Haringey's housing repair workers balloted on fresh strike action

Unite the Union rejected a recent pay offer from the council after claiming it represented a “real terms pay cut”, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Housing repair workers are planning winter strike action (credit Unite) — Housing repair workers on a previous walkout last year (credit Unite)

A new wave of strikes could be set for Haringey as housing repair workers are balloted on fresh industrial action.

Haringey Council’s housing repair workers, who are members of Unite the Union, are balloting for strikes following the rejection of a pay offer which the trade union said represented a “real terms pay cut”.

The union’s Haringey representative, Simon McCartney, said: “For two years employers have refused to negotiate with the collective workforce over the pay concerns.

“We’re now in the process of reballoting.”

The new ballot for industrial action opened on 31st August and closes on Thursday, 26th September. If agreed, it could see further strikes take place in autumn.

Simon said local government employers needed to “return to the negotiating table and propose a vastly improved pay offer”.

Describing the situation locally, he said Unite had created a dossier that highlighted the poor quality of the council’s housing repair service and the management of its team.

“There’s a huge shortfall in the council’s delivery of housing repairs,” he added.

The council recently sought to become accredited under the mayor’s ‘Good Work Standard’, a benchmark for employment standards.

But Simon said Unite planned to present its dossier to the Greater London Authority (GLA) as part of its objection to Haringey’s approval.

Simon also claims the council has made attempts to “weaken” the ability of housing repair workers to organise. Describing one instance, he said a senior Unite representative, who worked for the housing repair team and was set to retire, was suddenly put on garden leave in August to see out the last month of their employment.

“He didn’t get to say goodbye to colleagues after 40 years, he was in the office one day and a council officer walked in and gave him a letter. He was placed on immediate garden leave, locked out of his email, and had to see out his employment sitting at home.”

Sarah Williams, deputy leader and cabinet member for housing and planning, said: “We value our staff and strive to be a fair and welcoming employer.

“We have made an offer to Unite members which increases the average pay, London Weighting and annual leave entitlement which the union have rejected.

“Our proposal meets the demands of the workforce and is part of a proposal to enable us to implement an improved repair service for our residents.

“We are willing and open to negotiation, but we will not compromise on the core principles of fairness or agree to terms that are inconsistent with the rest of the council workforce.

“We are very proud to have been awarded the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard.

“The council does not comment on individual employee contractual cases.”

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