COUNCIL employees in the London borough of Newham are balloting for strike action again over their “very poor” treatment by management.

Carpenters, electricians and plumbers who are members of Unite say they are opposing a pay structure that they were not consulted about which will mean a pay cut of 20 per cent from June.

The news follows last week’s announcement that the council’s refuse collection workers are being balloted for strike action over the council’s failure to make meaningful efforts to ease the pay progress structure.

Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “It is becoming increasingly apparent that Newham Council is beleaguered by a very poor employment-relations culture, the results of which are coming home to roost.

“To paraphrase Oscar Wilde’s Lady Bracknell: For the council to have one strike ballot may be regarded as a misfortune; to have two looks like carelessness.”