And, the Unison members working for Scottish councils have also voted for industrial action which could see disruption across the country’s household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs), the union said.
This comes after COSLA’s final pay offer of 2% was rejected.
For the Environment Agency, a final pay offer last week on the back of negotiations with the government ended with an offer of an average increase of 2% plus £345 consolidated increase and some modest increases to allowances.
Agency
The union explained that EA’s offer falls short of the claim the unions jointly submitted in March, pointing out that most agency members didn’t get a pay rise last year.
Referring to a recent survey of EA members, the union added that staff have seen living standards drop, with some having decide “between eating and paying household bills”. Many are said to be leaving the agency as a result.
Unison national officer Donna Rowe-Merriman said: “The offer falls behind those offered to other public sector workers for the second year in a row. This government has failed to recognise the contribution of agency staff protecting the environment and communities and is unwilling to properly reward them.”
Chair of Unison’s EA sector committee Jackie Hamer added that the rise in fuel and energy prices has led to many members “struggling to afford travel to work”. Moreover, the high number of vacancies is putting further pressure on members when at work.
An EA spokesperson told letsrecycle.com: “Our staff are vital to our work to protect the environment, people and wildlife from harm.
“We aim to achieve the best possible settlement for all our employees within the constraints of the government pay guidance and in negotiation with the Trade Unions.”
The members are to be consulted in August, with the ballot running from 1 August to 2 September.
Scotland
In Scotland, the pay offer is to be revised this Friday (29 July), according to Johanna Baxter, Unison head of local government.
The Scottish council workers’ dismay over pay conditions is only strengthened by the fact that council workers in England were offered a flat rate uplift of £1925, which for those on the lowest pay equates to a 10.5% increase this week, the union explained.
It added: “This is the largest strike ballot by local government workers in over a decade and the first time workers across Scotland have voted to take strike action in these numbers.”
According to the union, members are prepared to strike in the coming weeks unless they see “a sensible offer” from COSLA on Friday.
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