Statement from Great Yarmouth Borough Council on Great Yarmouth Services industrial action ballot

Great Yarmouth Borough Council recognises and values the dedication and hard work of employees at Great Yarmouth Services Ltd (GYS), a company wholly owned by the Council, which provides vital services to residents every day.

Whether collecting waste, keeping our streets clean, maintaining parks and open spaces or caring for our cemeteries, GYS employees deliver essential services in all weather conditions. We fully appreciate and respect the important contribution they make to our borough.

We are aware of the outcome of Unite's industrial action ballot. At this stage, this is a vote in favour of potential industrial action and does not mean strike action has been confirmed. We are awaiting formal notification from the unions regarding any next steps and remain committed to constructive dialogue.

It is important to be clear that every employee at GYS earns above the National Minimum Wage, and both GYS and the Council continue to look at fair and equal pay for employees.

Pay increases at GYS are negotiated with the national unions through the established annual process, and those negotiations are still underway. The current dispute relates to the local branch of Unite's unprecedented demand for a further 20 per cent pay increase.

Meeting this demand would add approximately £1 million every year to the cost of delivering services. This is simply not affordable or sustainable and would have a direct impact on the services provided to every resident across the borough.

As a responsible employer and custodian of public funds, the Council must balance fair pay with protecting local jobs and delivering cost-effective services for residents. To meet a demand of this scale without increasing the financial burden on local taxpayers, significant savings would need to be made, which would inevitably mean service reductions and job losses.

We do not want to see valued local jobs lost. We absolutely recognise the contribution of GYS employees and remain committed to working constructively with the recognised trade unions to find a fair and sustainable way forward.

It is also important to note that Unite does not represent every employee at GYS. Employees are represented by different recognised trade unions, while others choose not to be union members. The ballot outcome therefore does not represent the views of the entire GYS workforce.

Our priority remains to reach a fair and affordable agreement that recognises the valuable contribution of our workforce, protects local jobs and ensures GYS can continue to provide high-quality, cost-effective services for the residents of Great Yarmouth.