Environment Agency workers strike in Romsey amid peak demand

Environment Agency workers, including river inspectors, flood forecasting officers, coastal risk management officers and sewage plant attendants, have resorted to industrial action after refusing to do voluntary overtime in the run-up to and during the festive period.

In Romsey, staff are picketing the entrance to Romsey District Office in Station Road as they walked out over pay on Wednesday, January 18 for the first time.

A full strike is taking place from 8am to 5pm, with the Romsey workers picketing from 8am to midday. However, UNISON agreed an emergency cover plan with senior managers at the agency to ensure officers cover incidents wherever there’s a threat to life or property.

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Staff said they voted for strike action following the government’s failure to fund the Environment Agency properly with wages which don’t meet the cost of living or the going rate for some skilled jobs.

Unison said sever staffing shortages have increased pressure on employees and threatened the agency’s ability to cope with disasters.

While demand on the service has peaked due to extreme winter weather causing river levels to rise, staff salaries have fallen by more than 20 per cent compared to inflation since 2010.

Speaking at the picket line in Romsey an environment agency, worker who asked to remain anonymous said: "After a decade of pay cuts, this year’s award of just 2 per cent is insulting. We feel undervalued and disrespected and that’s why we’re on strike today. 

“Because of the low pay on offer here, the Environment Agency is having real problems recruiting staff. That means we’re expected to cover vacant posts and do more for less money. And this has been happening for years.

“The cost of my mortgage has gone up by hundreds of pounds a month, on top of skyrocketing fuel bills and food costs. I’m struggling to make ends meet and enough is enough.

“The Environment Agency needs more money from government and we urgently need a pay rise that properly values the important work we do keeping homes and communities safe.”

Currently, there are more than 80 severe flood warnings in place in England and more than 110 flood alerts, with the agency advising on evacuations, constructing barricades, and pumping water from homes and land.

In December, workers belonging to UNISON began sticking to their contracted hours and refused to volunteer to be on call to deal with emergency incidents for several days.

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UNISON head of environment Donna Rowe-Merriman said: “Communities across the country are at huge risk without the services Environment Agency employees provide. Staff are simply fed up with being taken for granted. This neglect cannot continue.

“Years without any wage increase or pitiful pay rises well below the cost of living, have taken a huge toll. Experienced workers are quitting in large numbers for better wages elsewhere and roles can’t be filled.

“The employer is sympathetic to the need for improved wages. But managers are powerless to act unless the government improves funding and allows meaningful negotiations to take place.

“No one wants to strike, but agency staff feel they’ve left no other option. The government must get involved and find the funding so there can be positive moves on pay.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “As a public sector organisation, the Environment Agency remains bound by the pay policy of the government of the day.

“We have plans in place to minimise disruption to our essential work to protect the environment and respond to critical incidents.”