FIVE council leisure centres will remain open as usual on April 30 despite staff voting to strike in a row over pay.
The staff, including lifeguards, fitness instructors and receptionists, work for Fusion Lifestyle, the company which runs the centres for Croydon Council.
Thornton Heath, South Norwood, Purley, New Addington and Waddon leisure centres will all be affected.
Union Unite claims the industrial action will force the centres to close, but Fusion says they will remain open with "no disruption".
Unite says Fusion's contract commits it to a 'single tier workforce', in effect equal pay.
It claims the company has failed to meet its obligations and, after months of "fruitless" talks, industrial action was the only option.
Fusion's offer, with some staff getting three percent increases and others only one per cent, was rejected.
Unite balloted 58 members across five leisure centres. Of the 48 per cent who responded, all of them voted for strike action.
Unite says the centres will likely have to close on April 30 given the jobs its members perform.
Regional officer Onay Kasabi said: "The contract with the council is clear - this must be a single tier workforce.
"This means that if you are doing the same job, your pay must be comparable.
"Fusion have failed to address this - it is a simple matter of fairness."
He added: "Let's not forget that some of these people have not had a pay rise for five years.
"The impact of rising living costs while pay has fallen in real terms has been dramatic for our members."
A council spokesman said: "The council is aware of the ballot and is encouraging Fusion to continue its negotiations with the union with the hope of averting any strike action."
A spokesman for Fusion said: "Leisure Centres in Croydon operated by Fusion Lifestyle, intend to maintain normal services with no disruption to customers on April 30."
