Striking greenkeepers have been warned to keep their distance when picketing on public land.

Unison and GMB members at Hollingbury Park and Waterhall golf courses in Brighton have been in dispute with social enterprise employers Mytime Active for months over plans to reduce salaries by up to £5,000.

It culminated in five days of strike last week.

But unions claim they were issued with a notice telling them they have to move the picket and their banners – despite the land being publicly owned.

Gary Palmer, GMB organiser, said: “It would have been more productive for Mytime to spend the time seeking a resolution to the current range of issues, rather than creating either a new issue between our respective organisations or by seeking to exacerbate the current one.

“The current action will continue and there will be no change in our approach, we will be protesting at both courses and our members are also considering issuing further notice of industrial action.

“The GMB only know one way to respond to threats, and that’s robustly.”

Mr Palmer said he only felt the issue could be resolved by independent mediation from Acas.

The firm did not comment at the time of going to print.

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