Winter road gritting in Carmarthenshire is set to grind to a halt in January as workers from the local authority's highways department have announced a series of strikes. 

Earlier this month, around 70 gritting staff belonging to the GMB, Unison and Unite unions overwhelmingly voted for industrial action in the new year. The dispute between employees and Carmarthenshire County Council comes just two years after a similar row between staff and the council. 

Gritting staff will first go on strike on January 6 and 7. They will then down their shovels between January 17  and 21 January, and once again between January 24 and 28. 

Peter Hill, GMB Regional Organiser said: "Due to the intransigence of Carmarthenshire County Council our members now have no other option than to take action. It's not something we take lightly but until they come back to the table, we will continue.

"It's a disgrace that a local authority refuses to follow a signed agreement, and then breaks off talks meant to resolve the problems.  

“No other local authority in Wales behaves in this way" 

Mark Evans, Unison Branch Secretary said: 

"Despite what the council says they are not negotiating, if they are not willing to come back then they will have a fight." 

"It costs nothing to follow the agreement, why would they risk strike action which will cost taxpayers a lot of money when they could settle it easily."

In a statement, Councillor Hazel Evans, Carmarthenshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "We reject comments made by GMB regarding the agreement – our staff are being paid the rates for duties as set out in the collective agreement. We are continuing our conversations with trade unions and our staff on this issue, and whilst we wish to avoid industrial action we have contingency measures in place to ensure the safety of travelling public in the event of action taking place.”

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