Great Yarmouth workers announce strikes during tourist season
Bin collections and street cleaning to halt amid pay dispute
Workers in Great Yarmouth responsible for beach and street cleaning, along with business and household waste collections, will undertake strike action throughout August.
The announcement was made by Unite, the UK’s leading union, citing dissatisfaction with low wages that barely exceed the minimum wage.
Approximately 100 workers will protest their pay conditions, which are significantly lower than those of colleagues in Norwich, Broadland, and Lowestoft.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham spoke about the situation:
“These workers are doing heavy smelly work in all weathers to keep Great Yarmouth clean and tidy. Their current of rate of pay is an insult and needs to improve. Unite is supporting these workers all the way in their fight for fair wages.”
H2 - Impact on Services
Strikes are scheduled for the 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, and 12th August.
During this time, seafront businesses will not have waste collected, litter bins will remain unemptied, and street cleaning services, including beach cleaning, will be halted.
Household waste collections will also come to a standstill.
Unite regional officer Andreas Kuchner commented on the potential impact:
“It seems the council’s leadership would rather let residents, businesses and tourists suffer a summer of rubbish than address the deeply unfair poverty pay rates these essential workers are expected to survive on. The only ones thanking the council for causing these strikes will be the sea gulls and the rats.”
He noted that strike action could be avoided if an acceptable offer is made.
The dispute involves members from UNISON and GMB unions alongside Unite.
Great Yarmouth Services (GYS), the council’s subsidiary, expressed disappointment over the planned industrial actions.
A spokesperson for GYS outlined their stance:
‘’Great Yarmouth Services is extremely disappointed Unite is pursuing strike action that has been targeted to cause disruption to residents, tourists and businesses in the vital summer holiday period.’’
They revealed contingency plans that aim to prioritise core services focusing on refuse collection, litter bin emptying, and grave digging during the strike.
Norfolk County Council has agreed to extend its operating hours at the Caister Transfer Station to facilitate longer waste delivery times.
At the heart of the dispute is the demand for a 20 per cent wage increase for all staff, which GYS describes as unaffordable.
The pay increase would cost approximately £1 million annually.
Nonetheless, GYS reiterated their commitment to fair pay while balancing public finance responsibilities and local job protection, adhering to the National Joint Council (NJC) pay system.