by Our News Desk

DOWNING Street and Royal Parks gardeners went ahead with a 24-hour strike in a row over pay yesterday for the first in almost 40 years.

The GMB workers employed by contractors OCS are protesting at changes to pay arrangements, including moving from weekly to monthly pay and docking two weeks’ wages.

They are calling on OCS to pay them the London living wage of £9.15 and warn that further action is in the pipeline if the dispute is not resolved.

The strike also affected litter picking, refuse collection, road sweeping, cleansing, gritting, playground inspection and gravedigging at Brompton Cemetery.

GMB regional officer Gary Carter said: “Employment relations have been good down the years, but since OCS took over the contract in August 2014 staff morale has rapidly deteriorated because of repeated attempts to worsen their pay and conditions.

“Now OCS wants to hold back two weeks’ pay our members have already earned which will put these lower paid staff into debt. The management’s action will cause unnecessary financial hardship.

“The staff and gardeners are proud of the work they do which is admired by Londoners and by visitors from all around the world. They deserve to be treated with decency and respect and to earn a reasonable living. The Royal Parks should also not sit back and let this happen.”

The GMB said the strike will affect the bank holiday clean up and comes just a day before the state opening of Parliament when the Queen will go past the bedding outside Buckingham Palace, which the union warned will not get completed.

OCS was not available for comment.