Housing repairs delayed as council workers strike over annual leave

Housing repairs across one borough have been delayed after more than 150 workers employed by a council went on strike in a row over annual leave.

Nearly 160 workers employed within the housing and estate services at Southwark council took to the picket line on Tuesday, to demand annual leave in line with senior council management.

The members of Unite union perform vital repairs and maintenance on council-owned housing stock, but receive up to 12 fewer days annual leave than management in administrative positions. 

Workers in the housing and estates team currently start on 27 days leave a year. Those in senior roles at the council head office get an additional nine days but this can rise to additional 12 days with long service, the union said.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is a disgrace that a chief executive of a council, on hundreds of thousands of pounds a year to sit behind a desk, gets more annual leave than our hard-working members on the frontline of council services.

“Our members repair and maintain homes to ensure they are fit for habitation and yet are being told they can’t have the same annual leave as the number crunchers in head office. That is just plain wrong. They have the full backing of Unite in this dispute.”

Currently the chief executive of Southwark council, Althea Loderick, earns £230,368 with the council contributing nearly £50,000 in pension contributions. 

This is eight times the salary of workers within the housing and estates team, the union said.

Unite regional officer Maxine Loza said: “Our members perform a vital role for the council in all weathers, making sure Southwark residents have homes in good condition. We won’t stand for such unfair policies.

“All workers deserve paid time off to rest, recuperate and spend time with friends and family. 

“Delays in tenants receiving repairs and maintenance work are directly a result of the council’s failure to introduce a fair holiday system.”

Housing repairs across the borough have been delayed and disrupted due to the walkout.

A Southwark council spokeswoman said emergency repairs and urgent pest control would go ahead on the day of industrial action, but some planned appointments would be cancelled as a result.

She said: “The council highly values the contribution of our hard-working housing and pest control teams, and other staff taking industrial action on Tuesday April 1. 

“Our existing annual leave framework was negotiated and agreed with trade unions and we are currently working closely with trade unions to review our approach. 

“We will continue to provide an emergency repair and pest control services to our housing tenants during the industrial action.”  

The council confirmed it has undertaken a review of its annual leave policy, which is set to be discussed with trade unions.

To contact council services visit: Emergency housing repairs / Pest control services  

Pictured top: Southwark Council hq in Tooley Street (Picture: Google Street View)