A reduced service for housing repairs in Greenwich will run until tomorrow due to council workers striking.

Nearly 150 repair and investment workers employed by Greenwich Council have gone on strike, due to plans that would see their pay cut by 30 per cent.

This means that some council tenants may be contacted to reschedule pre-booked repair appointments until Wednesday, June 12, however emergencies will be dealt with as normal.

The council workers, who are members of the Unite union, have walked out in response to the local authority's plans to reduce wages through a pay-benchmarking exercise.

Cuts would be implemented in stages over four years, leading to some workers losing nearly £17,000 from their annual salary by the fourth year.

In reaction to this plan, repair workers have already taken strike action in May and were on the picket line yesterday, June 10, and again today, June 11.

They have also demonstrated outside Woolwich Town Hall.

Responding to the plan, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Greenwich council's plans are a brutal and unjustified attack on our members' living standards.

"Many will be left unable to fulfil their financial obligations such as paying their mortgages and rent.

"Others will be forced into debt."

Unite regional officer Mary Summers said: "That the council are trying to slash our members' wages is unconscionable and Unite simply won't stand for it.

"We are also appalled at the thinly-veiled threats of legal action against our members who are trying to protect their livelihoods.

"Unite has made clear it will not enter into bargaining to cut pay.

"The council need to confirm that this will not be imposed so the dispute can be resolved."

Greenwich Council said in a statement that nearing the end of negotiations with Unite, they were met with a "last-minute rejection and counter offer of a £60,000 lump sum per employee, on top of above average wage".

A spokesperson for the council said: "This offer is unreasonable, unaffordable and frankly unrealistic – and unfair on staff who have engaged in productive conversations to this point and deserve clarity."

Greenwich Council explained that their budget has been "cut to the bone" after "13 years of government austerity".

A spokesperson said: "We've reviewed the wage structure of some repairs staff who, in some cases, due to a complicated and historic bonus arrangement, have salaries well above industry average - even upwards of £100,000.

"We proposed a new structure which delivers better value for money for our tenants, while still appropriately reflecting the work that our staff carry out."

They added: "While we respect the union’s right to ballot for strike action, we would very much welcome a return to reasonable discussions.

"In the meantime we have all the appropriate resources in place to carry out essential repairs for our tenants."