Bin collections across South Gloucestershire face disruption this week as workers begin strike action over pay. Unite announced the planned industrial action last month, and said that around 150 workers employed by the council’s waste contractor Suez, would be taking part.
The strike begins from today (Monday, June 12) until Saturday, June 18, with a second phase set to last two weeks planned for Monday, June 26 until Sunday, July 9. It comes after members rejected an eight per cent pay offer from global waste company Suez, which Unite called a significant real term pay cut when looking at the firm’s annual profits, which were £80.8m in 2021 after inflation.
The company’s South Gloucestershire bin loaders earn £11.53 per hour. South Gloucestershire Council has apologised to residents for any inconvenience the strike action may cause and encouraged householders to still put out their bins as normal.
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The local authority said staffing levels for the week are unknown but that it will do its best to collect. The council said: “If any items are not collected by 6pm, please bring your bins and containers back in and present them again on your next scheduled collection day.
“If the green bin collection is affected, the subscription period of your garden waste service will be extended. You do not have to contact us to request this. To be able to prioritise collection services, The Revive shop at Thornbury Sort It Centre will be closed and container deliveries and bulky waste collections will be suspended.
“We will keep our website updated with information about the services available during the industrial action. Normal collections will resume from June 19.”
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