Government blamed as EA staff begin a work-to-rule

THOUSANDS of environment workers will today stop attending floods, water pollution, spills, waste fires and fly-tipping incidents as staff begin a strike.

Environment Agency (EA) staff represented by the Unison union will be working to rule for several days this month in a dispute over pay.

This means they will only work their contracted hours, taking all scheduled breaks and rest in full between shifts, and will not accept any unpaid work at this busy time of year.

Where there is a threat to life from incidents such as a major flood, officers will step in as emergency “life and limb cover” has been agreed.

EA staff are also responsible for maintaining coastal defences as well as managing the risk of flooding from rivers, reservoirs and the sea.

EA employees will refuse to volunteer for “on call” cover for several days.

Unison said high-vacancy levels at the agency are piling pressure on staff. The trade union balloted 2,800 members last month, and of those who responded, 73 per cent backed a strike and 92 per cent action short of a strike.

Wages have fallen behind rising costs for many years and this year workers were offered a 2 per cent rise plus a £345 payment, said the union.

Donna Rowe-merriman, Unison’s head of environment, said: “Staff are proud to play a vital role in keeping communities safe but feel constantly taken for granted by a Government that has persistently failed to invest in the Environment Agency.

“Wages there have been held down for years, prompting many experienced workers to quit for better paid work elsewhere. But as more leave, the pressures increase on those staff left behind. And so it goes on.

“Severe weather and concerns about pollution mean the agency’s work is more important now than ever. But the blame for any disruption must be laid solely at the Government’s door.

“The solution is a wage rise that’s a better match for inflation,” she said.