WALTHAM FOREST: Street cleaners' anger over 'brutal' contractor
11:26am Wednesday 2nd July 2008
STREET cleaners are threatening to strike over alleged mistreatment by 'brutal' council contractors.
They are angry that workers were drafted in from another part of London to address a serious backlog at a time when they claim they are banned from working overtime.
They also say the Bromley workers dumped rubbish illegally at Low Hall depot, in South Access Road, Walthamstow, instead of taking it to an incinerator.
A complaint has prompted an investigation by the Environment Agency, which may result in the council being prosecuted as the owner of the land.
The 30 cleaners were brought over at the weekend by Kier, which took over the street services contract at the start of June, to clear roads council workers say have not been swept for weeks.
Many residents have complained to the Guardian about rubbish accumulating across the borough since the private company took over the contract.
Street cleaners claim they are suffering financially from the overtime ban and voted uninimously on Tuesday to walk out if it is not overturned.
However, Kier insist overtime has not been banned and would be offered "where necessary".
Street cleaners also claim the workforce was halved when Kier sacked 90 agency workers. They say only 17 new agency workers have been employed to replace them.
One street sweeper, who did not want to be named for fear of losing his job, said: "We are losing around £150 to £200-a-week each on average - around half our wages.
"Three of my colleagues have had repossession notices served on their houses. The workforce is angry to say the least."
GMB representative, Gary Carter, said staff were "totally disgusted with the way they've been treated", after attending the crisis meeting alongside representatives from Unite and Unison.
"He added: "The local management have come in and taken a very brutal and unsympathetic attitude towards the workers. Feeling is running very, very strongly.
"Within a month, Kier has undermined a good service. Service levels have dropped considerably. I'm sure residents are being told there are improvements but that is not the case."
The Guardian approached Kier for a comment but the company has failed to respond.