GRAVE diggers at Wales’ second largest cemetery have voted to strike in August after they were asked to work until 7pm this summer.
One hundred per cent of GMB members voted to take action after Barry Town Council “demanded”, they claim, a change in working patterns at Merthyr Dyfan Cemetery.
Barry Town Council said the work pattern changes were “minor.”
The strike ballot result means the workers are now consulting on strike dates during August.
GMB said the vote followed Barry Town Council’s decision to walk away from negotiations with GMB union and served notice to six cemetery workers to impose a unilateral change to terms and conditions of employment, forcing them to work until 7pm in summer months, without their consent.
GMB regional organiser, Nicola Savage said: “The workers don’t take strike action lightly, let’s not forget they’re the ones who are losing a day’s pay, but they feel they’ve been driven to this point.
“We’re aware that the council have been briefing that they believe these are just minor changes, which just underlines how little they care about their staff.
“Changing your long-established hours during the summer when people have childcare responsibilities and commitments isn’t minor by any stretch of the imagination, and you’d expect any management worth their salt to understand that.
“It’s not too late, we’re ready to talk whenever they are.
“My phone is on anytime to take their call.
“We could even do it at 7 in the evening if it suits them better.”
A Barry Town Council spokesman said: “The Town Council consider this is a minor variation to the terms and conditions of employment; there is no change to pay, number of hours or continuity of service.
“There is no firing or re-hiring being proposed, as previously suggested by GMB.
“Six of the cemetery workers currently work 8am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 3.30pm Friday.
“The minor change means that the times of the shift will change to 11am to 7pm on circa two days a month during the summer, in order to close the gates to the cemetery.
“Other cemetery staff work 11am to 7pm during the summer months (April to September), already covering eight out of the 10 11am to 7pm shifts per working week (two members of staff on each shift).
“This minor change is to cover two shifts on the summer hours rota and is being shared out equally across six staff.”
