Environment Agency workers are set to strike later this month in a dispute over pay. Thousands of workers who are part of the Unison union will strike for four days.
Union members in England will walk out from 7pm on April 14 to 7am on April 17. Unison said that the strike will mean that communities, waters and wildlife will be put at risk.
The trade union said the strikes have been called because the Government had made no attempt to hold talks to resolve pay, despite months of strikes and industrial action. The latest round of strikes will see members who work on coastal sea defences, protect communities from floods, tackle water pollution, waste fires and fly-tipping take action.
Unison’s head of environment, Donna Rowe-Merriman, said: “Every community in England needs these experienced employees to help keep their local environment safe. All talk and very little action best describe the Government’s approach to environmental policy. Announcements come and go, but nothing much happens to clean up England’s seas, rivers, lakes, and canals.
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“This must change. The Government needs a properly staffed Environment Agency if natural habitats and water sources are to be protected. But with too few experts on its books, the Agency can’t possibly punish the polluters and keep everyone safe.
“Therese Coffey (Environment Secretary) should stop ignoring the plight of these invaluable workers and start tackling the growing staffing problems at the Environment Agency. Hourly rates are so low, some staff had to be given an emergency pay rise at the start of the week or their employer would have been in breach of minimum wage laws. It’s time the Government called in the employer and the unions to settle this damaging dispute once and for all.”
The Government has offered to increase Environment Agency staff's pay by 2% plus a £345 one-off payment given to workers in the autumn. Unison said the Government had refused to improve the offer, forcing its members to strike.
Emergency “life and limb cover” has been agreed where there is a threat to life or property.
