IN a bid to authenticate the real concern among members of Thurrock Council's Environmental Services team, at least 127 signatures of workers are to be submitted in a petition that will be seen by all borough councillors.

In recent days and weeks Thurrock Nub News has reported several times on discontent among the workforce over what they see as an attack on their pay and conditions by the authority.

In contrast senior members of the council's officer cohort have rubbished claims that there is unrest and chief executive Lyn Carpenter has instigated a policy of dealing directly with workers alongside union negotiations

A letter went to each member of staff saying that the council's position was being misrepresented by a minority of activists. And the council insists it is not "rewriting terms and conditions" of workers.

It appears an impasse has arisen between the workers and their managers and, in a bid to break that, a union rep has organised a petition which Thurrock Nub News has seen.

It currently contains 127 names and the details of members of the refuse collection, cleaner and greener and highways teams and reads: "We the undersigned refuse, highways, parks and street cleansing workers wish to register our opposition to proposed changes to our contracts and terms and conditions.

"Throughout this pandemic we have worked providing vital services to the people of Thurrock; something which was recognised by the public when they were clapping us in the street.

"We are not highly-paid individuals, we cannot and will not accept detrimental changes to our remuneration."

Last week we reported on a leaked memo which allegedly confirmed the council's intent to cut some pay and conditions - something it had previously denied.

The council indicated the content of the leaked document had been doctored by activists in a bid to drum up anti-management feelings.

This is strenuously denied by union representatives within the council workforce, with one describing the suggestion as 'ludicrous'.

In an explanation of the feeling of growing concern of the workforce and resentment about management bullying, a Unite union representative told us: "After seeing your most recent article (linked above) we have done a petition across the different departments and have gotten the majority of workers to sign it in a very short space of time.

"We will be emailing this to all the councillors asking for their commitment to stand by key workers.

"We would ask that if you did cover this you wouldn't highlight any of our names specifically so as to avoid management victimisation and also we'd like to thank you for your fair coverage on this issue. It's good to know someone is listening."