Thames lock keepers' strike suspended

THE LOCK KEEPERS' and weir staff along the Thames have suspended strike action after an offer from the Environment Agency.

This relates to the 52 trained staff employed by the agency over the length of the non-tidal river, Janet Friend reports.

Voted in favour

The strike was planned after 90% of the employees of the GMB Union voted in favour of industrial action over safety concerns resulting from staff shortages.

The 'work to rule' action had been due to begin on Tuesday of this week, but that has now been put-off following an updated offer from the agency, it telling it welcomed the lock keepers' decision to stand down from action.

The new deal, it has been confirmed, would see at least 80 staff on the river during the summer—28 more than currently employed.

Non-tidal locks

There are 45 non-tidal locks on the Thames, that originally had a lock keeper plus extra keepers to step in when the permanent one was not working.

In the recent past volunteers have been used to work the locks.