Unite, the UK’s leading union, has secured a significant pay victory on behalf of workers employed by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) on the outsourced Lewisham leisure contract.
The long running dispute concerned problems regarding unpaid wages which occurred as a result of the workers going through several TUPE transfers.
Unite’s members had overwhelmingly voted for industrial action last autumn but the union held off announcing strikes to allow talks to resolve the problems to take place.
GLL has agreed to settle the outstanding pay claims, establish a process to avoid such problems in the future and it will also encourage its workers to join Unite, the recognised union.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a really important victory for our members who have at last secured pay justice at Greenwich Leisure Limited.
“This deal demonstrated what can be achieved by workers standing together and underlines Unite’s absolute commitment to defending the jobs, pay and conditions of its members.”
Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “This shows what can be achieved through collective action. We are delighted that, going forward in Lewisham, Unite will be working with GLL to strengthen procedures to ensure staff queries are dealt with swiftly and fairly.
“Unite urges all leisure centre staff, not just in Lewisham, to join the union, so that similar problems can be tackled effectively.”
