Street cleaners are considering strike action after £600,000 was cut from the borough's refuse collection contract. 

Members of Unite, Britain’s biggest union, who are employed by Veolia Environmental Services on behalf of Haringey Borough Counicl are to ballot for industrial action.

Paul Travers, the union’s representative for the region, said savings have already been made by changing the way refuse is collected but cuts continue.

He said: “We have continued to work with the company through previous changes however recent events across London have made it impossible for us to work with Veolia.

“To make savings they have reduced the workforce by 15 people and staff continue to be treated poorly.

“Some streets in Haringey will no longer have sweepers to keep them clean, tidy and safe, as only vans will be driven around to just clean up the obvious mess.

"So not only are we defending our jobs, we are defending the quality of the street cleaning services in borough.”

Cuts are being made to reduce the amount spent each year on the council's refuse, recycling and street Cceaning contract.

The union is currently running an indicative ballot to gauge the level of interest in industrial action and may hold a general postal ballot depending on the result.

A proposed date for the strike has not been announced but the union members but have apologised to residents for any inconvenience caused.

The Haringey Independent has asked the council and Veolia Environmental Services for a comment.