A DECISION on whether street sweepers in Waltham Forest will take strike action has been delayed.

GMB members have already confirmed they will not be striking but UNITE members have yet to confirm what action they will take.

Union members threatened to walk out after claiming workloads have tripled since agency staff were removed and complaining of late payment and shortfalls in wages.

Kier has always denied wages were paid late or short but has never confirmed whether agency staff were let go.

Following a meeting held yesterday (Monday), a union source confirmed the regional officer for UNITE was unable to attend and a decision on strike action was not reached.

The source said: "We've got another meeting on Friday because the officer wasn't able to come."

He also claimed two members of staff at Kier had been sacked because of incompetence.

A spokeswoman for Kier said the company would not be issuing a statement as it would be "unprofessional" to comment on individual cases.

The company has been beset by problems since taking over the street services contract from the council's in-house provider in June 2008.

Residents continually complained of poor service and workers said workloads rose from 20 streets each to 70.

Kier has also been fined a total £9,250 after receiving 185 notices to improve substandard work in the last year.