Bin collections in Wirral will not go ahead as usual next week as hundreds of Biffa workers begin to strike in the lead-up to Christmas.
Around 200 workers employed by Biffa on the outsourced Wirral Council refuse contract will walk out on Monday as they fight for a 15% pay increase to "reset their pay rates and also tackle the cost of living crisis" as inflation soars to 14.2%.
Wirral Council has now confirmed that all bin collections and street cleaning scheduled between Monday, December 5, and Saturday, December 10, will not take place as a result.
READ MORE: Hundreds of Biffa bin workers to strike in lead up to Christmas
Residents have been asked to keep their rubbish until the next collection date, or take it to a recycling centre. Residents who have booked a bulky waste collection will be contacted to rearrange their date.
A Wirral Council spokesman said: "Residents who would normally have their green general waste bin collected the week commencing December 5 will have their green bin collected the following week, commencing December 12, instead of their grey recycling bin. Their green bin will then be collected again on week commencing December 19, and the usual collection routine then continues.
"Those residents who would normally have their grey recycling bin collected week commencing December 5 should hold on to this waste until their next recycling collection day or take it to the HWRC."
Unite the Union, representing the Biffa staff, said workers received low wages across the board, with HGV drivers being paid £11.95 an hour, refuse operatives £11.50 and street operatives £10.76.
General secretary Sharon Graham said: "Biffa is a hugely wealthy company that can and should pay a decent rate of pay to its workers. Unite’s members cannot and will not tolerate low pay any longer and they will receive the union’s complete support throughout this dispute."
A Biffa spokesperson said:"Unfortunately, following a day of negotiations between ACAS and the trade union in which an improved above-inflation deal was offered, we have been unable to reach an agreement. We will do everything we can to maintain services and minimise disruption for residents whilst resolving this issue."
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