Welwyn Hatfield Unite union members bag pay rise and end strikes

Continental Landscapes workers, on Welwyn and Hatfield council’s ground maintenance contract, have secured a pay increase of at least 13 per cent, after a lengthy industrial dispute.

The 13 Unite union members started their strike action in November to secure a pay increase, the introduction of pay differentials based on skills and knowledge and the assurance that temporary agency staff would not receive higher rates of pay.

The agreement states that the pay will increase on Saturday, April 1, from £10.12 an hour to at least £11.44 an hour (a 13.1 per cent increase).

There will be two further skill based pay bands at £11.60 an hour (a 14.6 per cent increase) and £11.75 an hour (a 16.1 per cent) increase.

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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an excellent result for a group of workers who stood together in unity and in doing so secured a fair pay increase.

“This result demonstrates how Unite’s commitment to fight for the jobs, pay and conditions of its members, no matter how large or small the workplace, is securing direct financial dividends.”

As part of the deal to end the dispute, Unite secured a commitment that in future agency workers will not be paid a higher rate of pay than permanent staff.

Unite regional officer Richard Gates said: “Unite will now be looking to engage constructively with Continental Landscapes going forward to ensure that the agreements that have been reached are fully implemented in the best interests of the workers and the company.”