Over 300 staff linked to a local authority, responsible for housing stock and cleaning and maintenance of council grounds and buildings, will strike over pay in late February.

The workers, members of Unite, are employed by HTS, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Harlow District Council.

HTS’s workforce voted by 87 per cent for strike action over pay being less than workers doing the same jobs at other local authorities.

The workers are demanding a cost-of-living payment and for their pay bands to be re-graded, so they are brought up to industry standards.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Harlow Council is fooling nobody. It is using HTS to keep these workers on inferior pay, terms and conditions.

“Harlow Council can well afford to give these workers a cost-of-living payment and Unite is determined to ensure that is what happens. Our members’ jobs, pay and conditions are this union’s top priority and the HTS workforce will receive Unite’s full support during these strikes.”

The workers will strike on February 21^st, 23^rd and 28^th during which housing repair and maintenance, street cleaning, grounds maintenance, cleaning and caretaking of council buildings and parks and gardening services will be severely disrupted.

In a joint statement, HTS and Harlow Council have said: “We are disappointed by the industrial action that Unite are taking. HTS management have been and will continue to engage with Unite.

“Most of the issues raised by Unite have been resolved. The one issue outstanding is Unite are asking for a lump sum payment for its members at HTS of £3,000. At the end of last year HTS staff received a flat rate increase of £1,925 which was the same for council staff as part of a nationally agreed pay offer.

“National negotiations with trade unions on a new pay offer for April 2023 onwards will begin shortly.

“The HTS workforce do a fantastic job and provide a range of important environmental and housing maintenance services for the town. We appreciate that the cost of living is impacting everyone, but a further pay increase this financial year beyond what has already been agreed nationally is not financially sustainable at this time.

“The industrial action will only involve HTS workers who are Unite members. Plans are in place to continue running essential services and disruption to residents will be kept to a minimum.

“HTS have started to and will continue to communicate with residents whose appointments will be affected.”

Updates on HTS service provision affected by the strikes will be published and communicated to residents.