Some of our leisure centre staff have gone on strike today.

The strike by Unite union members is in relation to the terms of new council contracts being offered to leisure centre workers who are transferring over from our previous operator after the council brought the leisure service in house in 2024.

The council has a duty to ensure that new contracts fit in with the future running model of our leisure centres to ensure the best value for our residents. We have inherited a varied number of contracts from our previous operator including different shifts, duties and seasonal work and therefore take time to agree with existing staff members.

So far, around 60% of contracts on LBTH terms have been issued and we are working to issue LBTH contracts to the remaining staff on historic GLL terms as quickly as we can.

In the meantime, there may be some disruption to services, including changes to opening and closing times across centres. We will work to minimise disruption where possible and updates will be shared on the Be Well website.

We are committed to maintaining dialogue with Unite to resolve the dispute.

Background information 

  • Some delays in issuing contracts have been linked to formal ‘Failure to Agree’ processes raised by Unite in relation to the service restructure.
  • The issue of new contracts of LBTH terms and conditions commenced on 1 January 2026 and is expected to conclude no later than 31 August 2026. 
  • Since bringing services in-house, over £8 million has been invested in leisure centres, including refurbished spas, football pitches and multi-courts, alongside initiatives such as free swimming and free lifeguard training, helping membership grow to over 30,000. 
  • The council remains open to further dialogue with Unite to resolve outstanding issues and avoid strike action.Â