Grounds maintenance staff in Welwyn Hatfield are set to go on strike in November and December over an ongoing pay dispute with their employers.

Workers for Continental Landscapes, which holds Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s grounds maintenance contract, will strike for eight days between Monday, November 21, and Tuesday, December 13.

Staff are currently being paid just £10.12 an hour, and while Continental Landscapes has offered a pay increase of seven per cent, this amounts to a real terms pay cut with real rate inflation currently standing at 12.6 per cent.

The UK’s leading union, Unite, is representing the workers, and their regional officer Richard Gates says they need a pay increase just to “survive” the ongoing cost of living crisis.

“Unite members at Continental Landscapes are paid just £10.12 an hour,” he said.

“At a time when inflation has hit 12.6 per cent, they need a substantial increase just to survive.

“All they are asking for is a decent pay increase in line with inflation, so they can keep their heads above water.”

In a statement to the Welwyn Hatfield Times, a spokesperson from Continental Landscapes said: “We are working hard to agree a pay award with the Unite Union who are representing their members working on the contract.

“As at March 1, 2022, we agreed a 9.4 per cent annual pay rise with Unite and applied this across our workforce.

“A further pay claim from Unite was received in July 2022. In response we made an offer of 10.2 per cent, 8.7 per cent and 7.2 per cent across the three employment grades in our workforce, which would be effective from the date of agreement.

“This was in addition to the 9.4 per cent pay award made in March 2022.  This offer has been rejected by Unite on behalf of its members.”

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has confirmed they have been informed of the strike action and are trying to minimise the impact on residents.

“Continental Landscapes is contracted by us to carry out grounds maintenance work across the borough, and we have not been directly involved in these pay negotiations,” said a spokesman.

“We were made aware of the planned strike action and are working hard with Continental Landscape to minimise any impact it could have on residents.”