Amey highway crews strike over pay

Employees with Amey at four depots in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire are on strike today (Friday 13th February) in the first of a series of planned 24-hour strikes.

They are working on the Highways Agency Area 8 asset support contract, having transferred from the previous managing agent contractor Carillion in April 2014. The workforce moved across to Amey under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations, or TUPE.

The dispute is over what their union, Unite, describes as “a paltry pay offer” from Amey of 1.75% and the company’s attempts to dismantle long-established collective bargaining agreements. According to Unite, Amey is putting new starters on contracts that allow Amey directors to determine pay year-on-year without collective agreements.

Unite wants a 5% pay increase to catch up with inflation as wages have fall in real terms in recent years, it said.

The four depots involved are Breakspear at Hemel Hempstead, Whittlesford in Cambridgeshire, Sandy depot in Bedfordshire and Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire.

Unite members are taking 24 hour strike action from 6am on Friday 13th February, again on Monday 16th February, then on Friday 20th February, and finally on Monday 23rd February.

Unite regional officer Richard Gates said:  “This is a company which manages over 30,000 miles of local highways across the UK, gritting roads and maintaining crash barriers. The work our members do is fundamental to safety on the roads and their pay and conditions surely must reflect that reality.

“Amey talks of the need for ‘safe well-functioning road networks’ but a good starting point would be acting in a responsible and professional manner towards its employees.

“Unite members have no wish to take strike action but are being forced to do so by a company unwilling to listen, much less address their concerns.

“74% of our members backed this strike on the back of a 100% turnout; our resolve is strong. More walkouts will follow unless Amey starts talking.”

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