About 60 gardeners working at several Royal Parks sites in London are being balloted for strike action following a pay dispute with the charity’s subcontractor.
The union GMB said that about 60 of its members working as gardeners and team leaders would be eligible to vote in the ballot, due to close on 14 August.
The staff are employed by the charity’s subcontractor, Idverde, to look after the Royal Park sites at Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park, Hyde Park and Brompton Cemetery.
The union said the dispute began after skilled gardeners and team leaders were offered a pay rise amounting to just 70p an hour.
GMB said that “such a small pay rise” would see a “significant narrowing of a gap between these senior workers and those on London Living Wage”, which the union said suggests that Idverde is treating the London Living Wage as a “ceiling rather than a floor”.
Union members have already indicated they were keen to strike in a consultative ballot, which saw 85 per cent vote in favour of industrial action.
A GMB member working at the Royal Parks said: “We are not asking for anything outrageous, just a fair increase.
“The cost of getting into work is getting more and more and all your other bills too. We are low-paid workers trying to survive in central London.”
Anna Lee, GMB regional organiser, added: “Our members are highly experienced and qualified gardeners, who deserve a fair uplift that reflects the value of their skillset.
“The difference between these higher-paid workers and those on London Living Wage is 55p.
“London Living Wage should be seen as a starting point for salaries, but by failing to maintain a fair pay differential, Idverde is treating it more like a ceiling.”
A spokesperson for the Royal Parks told Third Sector the terms and conditions of employment were a “matter for Idverde as the employer”.
The charity understood its subcontractor was “engaging with their union colleagues”, the spokesperson said, adding: “The Royal Parks is not party to those employment arrangements.”
They said: “We recognise that this is a matter of concern for those involved and hope that a constructive resolution can be reached through ongoing discussions between Idverde and its employees.
“Idverde and its workforce make a valued and important contribution to the day-to-day management of the parks, helping to ensure that they remain high-quality, welcoming and well-maintained spaces for the millions of people who visit them each year.”
Idverde has been contacted for comment.