BOSSES at the Sean Graham bookies' chain are seeking to have mediators brought in as they bid to avert a possible strike on their most important betting week of the year.
Staff - who have also voiced concerns over their personal health and safety - have unanimously rejected a pay offer from management, and now they'll be balloted on industrial action.
And the strike dates potentially under consideration include the opening and closing days of next month's Cheltenham Festival.
That would see Graham's offices possibly have to shut on the afternoons of the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup - which are the most lucrative days apart from the Grand National.
According to the Unite union, management at Sean Graham Bookmakers haven't adequately addressed the issues of poverty pay and staff security ahead of a ballot on strike action.
“We are disappointed at management intransigence and their refusal to address the issue of poverty pay among their workforce," Unite’s regional officer Davy McMurray said.
“Over the past few months, we have highlighted issues of concern for our members working for Sean Graham bookies, such as the absence of protective barriers to ensure staff security and the absence of overtime rates or any recompense for unsocial working hours.
"We have demanded action on the poverty pay rates which management expect workers to live on."
He added: “Management’s response has been to point to, and rely upon, the increase coming in April of this year in the legal minimum which can be paid to workers. This pay insult was rejected unanimously by our membership in a consultative ballot taken on the offer.
“Unite is now proceeding to ballot our members on industrial action, with dates currently under consideration for potential strike including March 15 and March 18.
"Ahead of this ballot, we are asking management to adopt a more enlightened approach, to demonstrate that they value the vital role staff play in their business’ success and meaningfully address the issue of poverty pay.”
Last night a spokesman for Sean Graham said: "We want to resolve this issue."
He added: "We have offered to enter into a facilitated mediation process and have made initial contact with the Labour Relations Agency, and we hope Unite will join us in that process.
"We have always put the safety and well-being of staff at the heart of our operations. Our staff costs have increased above inflation and our staffing levels have also increased across our shops."
