Library workers in south-east London are set to strike in the new year in a row over pay.
Around 70 members of union Unite, working at Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) libraries, are due to walk out on dates that are yet to be announced.
The strikes will lead to widespread closures of libraries across the borough, Unite said.
GLL, which trades under the Better brand, "failed to offer a 2023 pay increase that is acceptable and which addresses the cost-of-living crisis for members living in one of the most expensive parts of the country", the union said, as it accused the company of "completely refusing to negotiate".
A five per cent pay increase that workers have been given marks "a significant real terms pay cut, as at the time the pay increase was due the real rate of inflation (RPI) stood at over 11 per cent", the union said.
Workers are receiving "very low rates of pay" with staff on as little as £12.10 an hour, it added. This is below the real London living wage rate of £13.15 an hour.
"GLL has also refused to implement an occupational sick pay scheme that is acceptable to Unite members, failed to offer parity with other local government terms and conditions and refused to offer permanent contracts to temporary staff who want them," said Unite in a statement.
"GLL, a 'social enterprise', claims to be worker-owned and worker-led but has refused point blank to negotiate on pay.
"This has left Unite members little choice but to head to the picket line. Unite is in a similar dispute with GLL library workers in the London borough of Bromley."
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is gobsmacking that an employer who claims to be a social enterprise and run by its staff not only doesn’t pay a decent wage but refuses point blank to negotiate with the workers’ union."
Unite regional office Mary Summers added: "GLL need to take a long hard look at itself and the damage it is going to needlessly inflict on library services in Greenwich. It needs to up its game and offer proper pay and conditions to its workers."
GLL has described the strikes as "disappointing and unnecessary".
A spokesperson for GLL said: "Unite's local ballot of only its Library members in Greenwich succeeded by the narrowest of margins and is disappointing and unnecessary given we have engaged regularly over the last few months on all of the issues they have raised.
"As an independently operating staff-owned national co-op, we are very focused on the pay and conditions of our people. We are accredited with the Living Wage Foundation, and have raised pay for entry level staff by up to 12 per cent this year.
"The announced uplift in the Real Living Wage will be reflected in the 2024 pay award for all our eligible staff.
"We offer permanent positions – the vast majority of hours are worked in this way - and guaranteed hours to part time workers that want them.
"We are happy to continue to meet with the union to clarify these points and resolve their dispute. Should there be unnecessary strike action, our intention will be to keep services running for the communities we are proud to serve."
