Manchester could face bin strikes within weeks as workers vote in favour of taking industrial action over an ongoing pay dispute with employer Biffa. The strikes would affect up to 220,000 homes and could start in two weeks.
It comes after Biffa, which has a contract with Manchester council, offered staff a pay rise of 1.75 pc – but unions have described the offer as 'insulting'. Around 200 workers who are members of unions GMB and Unite - including drivers, loaders and environmental operatives - were balloted on the dispute.
More than 90 pc voted for industrial action in the ballot which ran from March 29 until today (April 12) with a turnout of more than 60 pc, according to GMB. Unions will now meet with workers to discuss when the strike will take place.
READ MORE: Bernard Manning's Embassy Club KEEPS its licence after knifings as new CCTV footage emerges
GMB Regional Organiser Michael Clark said: "The city’s refuse collectors and street scene services worked through the pandemic, doing a tough job. Now they need help to get them through the biggest fall in living standards for 50 years.
"GMB’s door is open – we urge Biffa to come back to us with a decent offer to stop this strike before it begins."
Biffa is proposing to pay loaders and environmental operatives £10.14 an hour, according to the unions which say the proposed pay of £13 an hour for drivers, who are required to hold HGV licences, is far below standard commercial rates.
It comes after Biffa's profits bounced back after its commercial waste operation was heavily affected by the pandemic and related lockdowns. The 'highly profitable' company has previously committed to continuing pay talks – but the unions have said Biffa has refused to increase the pay offer.
Unite regional officer Tanya Sweeny said: "Unite members employed by Biffa on Manchester council’s outsourced refuse contract have overwhelmingly voted for strike action. Unite is now giving Biffa a final chance to make a fair offer to our members before announcing strike action."
Union members make up more than half of Biffa's workforce in Manchester. The unions must inform the employer two weeks in advance of any strike.
A Biffa spokesperson said: "We are in active and ongoing negotiations with the unions and remain committed to reaching a solution as quickly as possible."
A Manchester council spokesman said: "We are aware of the ballot decision today to go ahead with industrial action. We will continue to work with Biffa, and we will monitor the situation while negotiations are ongoing to reach a solution and avoid strike action. We will continue to put plans in place to minimise potential disruption during any planned strike action."
