More than 150 waste workers are set to go on strike over "paltry pay" and an "insidious bullying culture", it is claimed.

Refuse collectors employed by Bexley Council contractor, Serco, at its depot in Thames Road, near Dartford, are to stage a five-day walk-out.

The Crayford workers are upset at Serco's continued refusal to pay a "living wage", union Unite claims.

It is argued that the company should increase pay – currently £10.15 an hour – to a minimum of £13 an hour, in line with their counterparts in Greenwich.

Employees have also complained of an "insidious bullying culture" at the depot, it is alleged.

The five days of strike action are set to take place on July 30 and 31 and again on August 3, 4 and 6, putting the emptying of bins on those days in doubt.

Unite members working on the Bexley contract took a day-and-a-half of strike action in March over pay.

“The latest round of industrial action has been sparked because Serco have failed to offer our members a decent wage."

But plans for more industrial action were scrapped after the Prime Minister announced a UK-wide lockdown on March 23.

Unite regional officer Ruth Hydon said: “The last day of strike action was on March 19 when we called off further strike days because of the pandemic and after Serco agreed to pay all our members sick pay for Covid-19 related absences.

“The controversial outsourcer then reneged on this and did not pay about 30 of our members properly in their April pay packets.

“The latest round of industrial action has been sparked because Serco has failed to offer our members a decent wage.

"Its current paltry offer of £10.15 an hour - rejected by our members - is even below the London ‘living wage’, currently £10.75.

“It has also been rejected because Serco has failed to deal with an insidious bullying culture at the Crayford depot.”

In a separate development, Unite has had a meeting with Serco, following criticism from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over inadequate social distancing measures at the Crayford depot.

A HSE spokesperson said: “Social distancing concerns were raised at this site, which were initially followed up by telephone.

“Following further concerns, HSE visited the site and identified that the controls originally reported to HSE by the company were not being appropriately implemented.

“HSE wrote to the company requiring them to implement controls.

“The company have now implemented suitable controls, which have been verified by the complainant.”

Unite said while some progress had been made, there were still some outstanding issues that needed to be addressed.

Philip Bovis, Serco’s contract manager, said: “We are working constructively with Unite and hope to achieve a resolution to this dispute.”

Bexley Council said it was liaising with Serco's senior management and is optimistic that the situation can be resolved.

The authority added it would be keeping residents informed through the local media, its website and social media.

Leader of the council, Cllr Teresa O’Neill said: “It’s a disgrace that Unite are considering taking action in the middle of a public health pandemic.

"I hope that the ongoing discussions will help all parties to quickly settle their issues.”

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