STAFF at five leisure centres across Croydon are to press ahead with planned strike action next Wednesday.
Lifeguards, fitness instructors and receptionists working for Fusion Lifestyle have decided to stage a one-day walkout on April 30 in a row over pay.
There have been no further discussions between the company, which runs the centres for Croydon Council, since union Unite announced the strike last Thursday.
Fusion insists the leisure centres in Thornton Heath, South Norwood, Purley, New Addington and Waddon will remain open despite the walkout.
Unite said it will look to hold further industrial action - lasting longer than one day - if the strike fails to prompt an improved pay offer.
Regional officer Onay Kasabi told the Advertiser: "The strike is definitely going ahead on April 30. Since we balloted our members there have been no discussions whatsoever.
"If anything the feeling among staff has only become stronger. There are some who have joined the union because they want to strike.
"Unless our members get what they are entitled to then they will take further action.
"What we won't do is a series of one-day strikes. If a one-day strike isn't effective - which we hope is not the case - we will go back to staff and suggest sustained industrial action.
"I'm not sure exactly how long that would last at this point but it would be for a period that would hurt the company."
The dispute surrounds allegations that the funding Fusion receives from the council has gone up year on year, but the company has failed pass on those increases to staff, some of whom have not had a pay rise for five years.
Fusion's offer, which would see some staff getting three per cent and others only one, was rejected.
Unite balloted 58 members across the five leisure centres. Of the 48 per cent who responded, all of them voted for strike action.
The council says it has encouraged Fusion to continue negotiations in the hope of averting strike action.
Fusion says it intends to maintain normal services on April 30.
↧