COUNCIL gritters are to go on strike in the New Year which they say could bring Carmarthenshire’s road network to a standstill.

Gritters in Carmarthenshire County Council Highways department have announced dates of industrial action in January.

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

Unions say that with the current shortage of HGV drivers, strike action could see the entire road network of Carmarthenshire come to a standstill.

Earlier this month around 70 gritters in GMB, Unison and Unite unions overwhelmingly voted for industrial action early in the new year.

The dispute follows on from action taken two years ago that saw the introduction of the comprehensive collective agreement between the union and the authority.

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 added: "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"

Cllr Hazel Evans, Carmarthenshire County Council’s cabinet member for environment, said in response: “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.”