Gravediggers in Barry have voted unanimously for strike action after the council demanded they work until 7pm during the summer.
The overwhelming result means the workers are now consulting on strike dates during August.
The vote follows Barry town council’s decision to walk away from negotiations with GMB union and served notice to six cemetery workers to impose a unilateral change to Terms and Conditions of employment, forcing them to work until 7pm in summer months, without their consent.
Nicola Savage, GMB regional organiser said:
“The workers don’t take strike action lightly, let’s not forget they’re the ones who are losing a day’s pay, but they feel they’ve been driven to this point.
“We’re aware that the council have been briefing that they believe these are just minor changes, which just underlines how little they care about their staff.
“Changing your long-established hours during the summer when people have childcare responsibilities and commitments isn’t minor by any stretch of the imagination, and you’d expect any management worth their salt to understand that.
“It’s not too late, we’re ready to talk whenever they are. My phone is on anytime to take their call, we could even do it at 7 in the evening if it suits them better”.
