Housing maintenance workers employed by Mears in Manchester are to begin fresh strike action next week due to a dispute over pay differentials.

The 180 workers will start a 49-day programme of 48-hour stoppages from Thursday, 16 November.

Union Unite said its members voted overwhelmingly in favour of fresh strike action due to a long running dispute over pay differentials, which results in the workers at Mears and Manchester Working (a joint venture company operated by Mears) being paid up to £3,500 less for the same work. So far, the workforce has already taken 40 days of strike action this year.

The union added the workforce's resolve has been increased by the 'disingenuous information' put out by Mears.

Unite said the company claimed it made a previous 10% pay offer to resolve the dispute, however it failed to mention this was then withdrawn and would have required the workforce to work an extra two hours a week. The offer also contained the requirement the workforce agree to a productivity procedure.

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In addition, Mears claimed workers were generally on £25,000 per annum with the highest earners earning up to £35,000. However, Unite said this only applies to a small number of contracted engineers, rather than the ex-local authority workers who are involved in the dispute.

The union said in reality, just a handful of workers are earning £25,000 per annum and most are paid £22,000 a year. It is these pay differentials which has caused the initial dispute.

Regional co-ordinating officer, Andy Fisher, said: "Mears has again been given the opportunity to resolve this dispute following the overwhelming vote for strike action. Once again they have squandered this opportunity.

"Strike action is being taken as a last resort and will unfortunately inevitably result in widespread disruption to tenants of Northwards housing.

"Unite has attempted to persuade Northward to put pressure on Mears to resolve the dispute but that has not occurred, perhaps due to the close relationship between the management of the two organisations.

"The deliberate misinformation by Mears about what workers earn has only strengthened the resolve of the workforce to press ahead with the strikes. Our members know the truth about what they are actually paid."

The series of 48-hour strikes will take place on the following dates; November 13, 16, 20, 23 and 27, December 04, 07, 11, 14, 18, 21, 28, January 04, 08, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29, and February 01, 05 and 08.

The same workforce will also take part in 24-hour strikes on 30 November, 01 December and 02 January.

(LM)