Pollution fears over Environment Agency strike

FLY-TIPPING and pollution incidents could go unchecked as staff from the Environment Agency (EA) go on strike for the first time later this month.

Unison, which represents around 24 per cent of EA workers, said members would walk out on Wednesday, Jan 18 from 8am to 5pm. Staff would step in to cover any risk to life and property should there be a major flood incident on the day, the union said.

Last month, EA staff began working to rule and refused to be “on call” in the festive period, in the dispute over pay.

Unison said EA workers had been given an “inadequate pay rise of just 2 per cent [plus] a £345 payment, after years of wages falling further behind rising costs”. The EA responsibilities include managing flood risk in rivers and seas, monitoring pollution inci- dents and maintaining water resources.

The Environmental Services Association, which represents the waste industry, said prolonged strikes could “only make a bad situation worse” in terms of the enforcement of waste regulations, including fly-tipping.

An EA spokesman said: “We have plans in place to minimise disruption to our essential work.”