Wirral's bin workers secured a significant pay rise after successful strike action which ended today with a deal.
More than 200 Biffa employees on the outsourced Wirral Council waste collection contract walked out on strike earlier this month and were due to hold further strikes across the busy Christmas period. The action was suspended this morning and all further strikes cancelled today after a new pay offer was accepted.
The deal came about after the Unite union and representatives from Biffa held Christmas Day talks with Wirral Council leader Janette Williamson. It means collections have resumed across the borough today.
READ MORE: Wirral's bins are being collected after strikes called off
Now the Unite union has provided details of the increased pay offer that its members have accepted, which works out as a 15% rise which will be backdated to April.
Class 2 HGV drivers will also see their hourly rates increase by £1.49 on top of the percentage pay increase. From April 2023, the workers will see their pay increase again by between seven and nine per cent, depending on the RPI rate of inflation.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is another win for Unite members; this pay increase was won by workers organising in a trade union and standing together for a better deal. Unite the union is doing what it says on the trade union tin – we are delivering jobs, pay and conditions victories for our members. We are winning for workers in the worst cost of living crisis in decades.”
Having brokered Christmas Day talks between the two sides, Cllr Williamson said: "I’m pleased that we’ve been able to help bring about a resolution. For the Biffa and Unite dispute, I convened a meeting on Christmas Day, because I knew how important this issue is to everyone in our borough.
"I urged both sides in the strongest terms to resolve the matter, and I am very pleased we’ve managed to bring about a positive outcome that will mean our residents know their bins will be emptied over the Christmas and New Year period."
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