Refuse, housing and customer service workers at Huntingdonshire District Council will strike as bosses continue to refuse to implement an agreed pay deal, UNISON announces today (Wednesday).

UNISON tried to end a long-running pay dispute earlier this month when its members voted to accept a five per cent pay rise — one of three offers made by the council.

But the Lib Dem/Labour/Green/independent coalition running the council refused to implement its deal and decided to prolong the dispute, leaving staff with no choice but to walk out, says the union.

Instead, council bosses have just launched an all-staff survey on the three offers. UNISON says the council has never polled staff vote before and is only doing so now in a bid to undermine collective bargaining. 

Council workers will take one day of strike action on Friday October 6, followed by an indefinite work to rule from Monday October 9.

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UNISON Eastern regional organiser Cameron Matthews said: “Huntingdonshire District Council has taken us through the looking glass. Instead of ending this pay dispute they’ve decided to provoke workers into striking.

“When residents’ bins go unemptied or they can’t access important local services, they should be clear that the blame lies squarely at the door of these councillors and senior managers.

“It's particularly disappointing to see Labour, Lib Dem and Green councillors behaving like this when all three parties have manifesto commitments to greater trade union rights.

“Council bosses can easily avoid industrial action by giving workers the pay rise they’ve agreed to.”

The Hunts Post has approached Huntingdonshire District Council for comment.