They are employed by council-owned firm Redbridge Civic Services (RCS) but subject to ‘far worse’ conditions than their local authority colleagues, according to trade union Unite.

The union said workers were unhappy about consistently starting and finishing late due to vehicles breaking down, pressure to work overtime every weekend, and having to do an extra daily hour of work outside their contracts.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘This is disgraceful behaviour from the council who are treating some of their most vital workers appallingly.

‘Redbridge council is guilty of trying to operate a vital frontline service on the cheap and it must immediately get its house in order.’

A week of industrial action will start on 1 July, meaning rubbish will be building up outside polling stations and homes by the General Election, Unite said.

Redbridge Council said it was facilitating the early stages of negotiations between RCS and Unite in a bid to prevent strike action.

A spokesperson said: ‘The council is confident that the extensive package of support offered by RCS, which follows generous salary increases in 2022 and 2023, provides fair renumeration and represents a significant improvement in employee conditions.’

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