The GMB union said many staff at council-owned firm Peterborough Limited, which delivers waste management and street cleaning services, were struggling on low pay.

The GMB said 78% of members had voted for industrial action in a consultative ballot.

According to the union, workers employed directly by the council had received a more generous pay award, creating a ‘worrying’ discrepancy.

Regional organiser Gordon White said: ‘The insulting pay offer from Peterborough Limited is a real turkey – worthy of Ebenezer Scrooge.’

He added: ‘If we do not receive a meaningful and serious offer, we will have no choice but to press on with member-led action.’

A Peterborough Limited spokesperson said: ‘We have committed all the funding we have in our pay rise budget into the offer.

‘Our funding is predominately driven from Peterborough City Council, who like all local authorities continue to see unprecedented pressure on its resources and finances, as such we are committed to support Peterborough City Council through delivering a balanced budget.’

This article first appeared on LocalGov. 

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