Council staff threaten to go on strike over pay

Council workers are considering industrial action over a pay dispute with their employer, according to the GMB trade union.

Staff at Peterborough Limited – a company wholly owned by Peterborough City Council – are threatening the action after rejecting a "turkey" of a pay award.

The workers provide services including waste management, street cleaning, libraries, museums and leisure centres.

The council has been contacted for comment.

The union, which said many of its members were struggling on low pay, said 78% of them voted in favour of industrial action.

It said the offer from Peterborough Limited would mean a 2.25% rise above the increase required to meet the National Living Wage.

But workers employed directly by the council have received a more generous pay award, the union said.

Gordon White, GMB regional organiser, said: "The insulting pay offer from Peterborough Limited is a real turkey – worthy of Ebenezer Scrooge.

"GMB members have rightly rejected it.

"This time of year is particularly busy and many of these workers will be delivering vital services over Christmas.

"They deserved to go into the festive period with a decent pay rise but were instead offered pennies more than the bare minimum.

"If we do not receive a meaningful and serious offer, we will have no choice but to press on with member-led action."

On Monday, the cash-strapped local authority proposed mothballing a city-centre lido and cutting back library services to help manage its budget.

The authority says its predicted budget gap for 2025-26 has "increased significantly" from £3m to more than £20m due to rising demand and costs.

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