London, UK: The Unite union is warning that HGV drivers using the M25 face ‘Highway to Hell’ journeys this spring as workers employed by the joint venture company Connect Plus Services, who provide maintenance and undertake emergency responses on the motorway, ballot for industrial action over pay.
Unite says that the 150 plus workers have rejected a pay offer of 5.3%. The ballot for industrial action opens on 13 March and closes on 31 March. If members vote for strike action than stoppages could begin as early as mid-April.
Unite regional officer Malcolm Bonnett said: “Strike action will inevitably cause severe delays and disruption on the M25 and turn it into a ‘Highway to Hell’. But this dispute is entirely of Connect Plus Services’ own making. It has been given every opportunity to make a fair pay offer but has refused to do so.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members perform an essential role in keep the M25 moving. It is completely unacceptable that Connect Plus is trying to force through a real terms pay cut. The company needs to realise its actions are unreasonable and return to the negotiating table with a vastly improved pay offer.”
Connect Plus Services is a joint venture company operated by a partnership of Balfour Beatty, Egis and Aitkin.
