Bins are being collected over the festive period in Wirral after strikes were called off following a Christmas Day summit.
More than 200 Biffa employees on the outsourced Wirral Council waste collection contract were set to escalate their industrial action with strikes over the key period between Christmas and New Year and again in January.
Having already carried out a period of strike action earlier in December, Biffa staff who are members of the Unite union were set to walk out again from today (December 28) until Saturday December 31. The plan was for more strikes to then be held between January 3 and 7 and January 16 and 21.
But those strikes are now off after workers voted to accept an improved pay offer. The dispute has now ended, with all planned strikes cancelled.
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It is understood that missed collections from last week will be prioritised by additional crews, with normal collections carried out from today by the rest of the teams. The council's street cleaning teams will focus on emptying litter bins that have become full or overflowing following previous action.
Thousands of residents had made complaints about missed collections since the action began, with the knock-on impact of strike action leaving many with uncollected bins.
The agreement to suspend the strikes came about after a Christmas Day summit involving the Unite union and Biffa, led by Wirral Council leader Janette Williamson.
Speaking about the resolution, she 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."
There was more good news on the waste collection front yesterday as planned strike action by staff at tips across Merseyside was called off. Staff employed by Veolia, which runs 22 household waste recycling centres around the region were due to walk out from today (December 28) until New Year's Eve.
But yesterday a service alert update on the company's website said the centres will be "open as normal" over the festive period.
The statement read: "Planned industrial action suspended. Household Waste Recycling Centres in Merseyside and Halton will be open as usual over the festive period - only closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day."
Cllr Williamson added: “This is in addition to the dispute relating to Veolia staff working at our recycling centres, which saw a successful meeting on Christmas Eve. I’d like to thank everyone involved for their constructive approach and willingness to meet through the festive period.”
Unite regional officer John McColl said: “Following renewed negotiations, an improved offer was put forward from Biffa which our members voted to accept. The dispute has now ended and strike action has been cancelled.”
A Wirral Council spokesperson said: "After discussions that continued throughout the Christmas holiday period between Biffa and the council, we have been informed this morning that an agreement has been reached between Biffa and their workforce and planned industrial action has now been called off. As such, Biffa employees have resumed work this morning."
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