Binmen will go on strike for TWO WEEKS in Wiltshire in walkout that will hit 250,000 homes after rejecting new pay offer
- Members of the GMB union employed by Hills Municipal Collections will strike
- The walkout will begin on Monday, affecting thousands of homes in the county
- It had been due to start earlier this week but was delayed after a new pay offer
- But union members have rejected it saying it ‘falls short’ of what it should be
More than a quarter of a million people in England could face weeks with no bin collections after GMB members voted to go on strike in Wiltshire.
Members of the union who are contractors for Hills Municipal Collections in the county will walk out on Monday as part of a row over pay.
The move, which will affect 250,000 homes, had been due to begin on Monday, February 28, but was delayed after the company made an improved offer to workers.
However, this new offer has now been rejected by all three affected sites, with the GMB saying members are getting ‘angrier and more unhappy’ with how they’re being treated.
Binmen in Wiltshire (pictured) will go one strike from Monday for two weeks, leaving potentially 250,000 homes with no collections
It said part of the latest offer including moving the pay anniversary, meaning workers would have to wait longer before starting any more pay negotiations.
GMB official Gary Palmer said: ‘We thought we were getting really close to an offer our members could consider in good faith.
‘Every offer which falls short of our members’ self-valuation makes them angrier and more unhappy with how they are being treated.
‘We have offered a solution and it’s now the responsibility of Hills to come to the table and accept that, otherwise they have to take ownership of the disruption to services and the effect this will have on homes and businesses across the county.’
Last month the union said its members expected a pay rise of 7 per cent as the cost of living crisis impacts on households.
Unions have been in a pay row with Hills Municipal Collections, with a recent planned strike postponed after a new pay offer. However, this latest offer was rejected, meaning the walkout is now back on (file picture)
A spokesperson for the firm told the Salisbury Journal UNISON members had accepted the same deal.
‘Hills Municipal Collections’ latest pay offer has been rejected by members of the GMB Union and notification has been given that strike action affecting household waste and recycling collections in Wiltshire will commence on Monday March 7 for two weeks,’ they said.
‘The number of union members who are likely to strike has been reduced following UNISON members accepting the pay deal. Hills Municipal Collections is also awaiting Unite Union’s response to the offer which is due next week.
‘This is a very disappointing outcome. We have moved our offer considerably over the previous weeks and we firmly believe that the pay offer provides a fair settlement in relation to inflation and indexation, which we know is impacting the cost of living.
‘The offer is in line or ahead of comparable local pay awards and it provides positive certainty in a time of increasing volatility.
‘Hills Municipal Collections teams will work with Wiltshire Council to minimise disruption to household collection services.
‘This industrial action has been timed to coincide with the roll-out of new collection rounds, and we ask for resident’s understanding whilst we do all we can to deal with the issue.’
It is the latest in a series of disputes involving waste collection workers across the country.
Later this month bin workers in Barrow working for FCC Environment will go on strike for six days amid appeals for a 3 per cent pay rise.
In January, workers announced a bin strike in Eastbourne and Coventry.
It is the latest in a series of strikes by refuse workers across the country. This picture shows rubbish piling up in the street during a workers strike in Brighton in October last year
In October, dozens of refuse workers from the GMB Union walked out in Brighton as part of industrial action.
They were in dispute with the Green-led council over pay and working conditions, including the removal of drivers from long-standing bin rounds.
The walk out led to shocking mountains of rubbish piling up on the streets.
One resident said: ‘The piles of rubbish are growing daily and the stench is absolutely appalling.
‘The GMB is hugely powerful in Brighton and Hove and it is holding the council over a barrel yet again.’
Source: Read Full Article
