Street cleaners in 98% strike vote

Aug 10 2007 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

AN OVERWHELMING majority of street cleaners and maintenance workers in Liverpool have voted in favour of strike action later this month.

Around 98% of GMB members within Enterprise Liverpool – the company in charge of street cleaning and maintenance – voted for the action because sub contractors have been brought in to help keep the city tidy for Capital of Culture.

The union says the low wages of the sub contractor’s workforce is undermining Enterprise employees and wants the company to directly employ all workers.

Enterprise has met union representatives twice but no conclusion was reached. The GMB says if fresh talks on Wednesday are unsuccessful, strikes will begin the follow- ing week, but the exact terms of the action are yet to be decided.

Ian Lowes, GMB branch secretary, said: “This issue has been brewing for a while.

“Enterprise was given extra funding by the city council for work leading up to the Capital of Culture. However, the company used this cash to hire sub contractors, whose staff receive low wages and work under poor conditions.

“Wednesday is a last-ditch attempt to resolve the issue before a strike is held towards the end of the month.”

The GMB has 300 members within the company and the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), has 50. Over 95% of the workforce are represented.

The result of a ballot by the TGWU is expected today.

A spokesman for Enterprise Liverpool said: “Talks continue and we are hopeful they will be successful when we meet next Wednesday.”

Enterprise is a partner of Liverpool City Council and it was given a 10-year contract in 2001. It is responsible for street cleaning, highway and verge maintenance, winter maintenance and street lighting.

The company is managed by a board of directors, made up of representatives from Enterprise PLC and Liverpool City Council.

Mr Lowes added: “Workers feel under-valued because people are being brought in from outside the city, on poor pay, when Enterprise’s employees are here.”

lizawilliams