‘Arms length’ workers strike

Over 300 cleaning and grounds maintenance staff employed by HTS (Property & Environment) Ltd, a company wholly owned by Harlow Council, are to take strike action starting in late February.

The workforce, who are members of the Unite union, voted 87% in favour of strike action because of a dispute over pay. HTS workers receive less than workers doing the same jobs at other local authorities.

They are demanding a cost of living payment and for their pay bands to be regraded, so they are brought in line with those working under local authority agreements and the industry standard.