Nearly 100 workers from recycling centers and refuse collection services run by North Somerset Environment Company are due out for six days in April; 12-13, 16 -17 and 21 – 22. The move is expected to affect around 88,000 homes.
It comes as workers are angry with North Somerset Council, which set up the company last year, only funded a 4.5% pay over two years. The GMB union said that with inflation at 7.8% and expected to rise further, this equates to a sharp reduction in wages in real terms.
GMB Regional Organizer Tim Northover said: “We’re sad to come to this, but it can’t last forever. The members made their views clear a few weeks ago when they gave us the mandate to call a strike, and we hoped the board would see the common sense and make a serious offer.
READ MORE: Bin overflow fears as Somerset denies collectors strike
“The truth is that our members have worked hard during the pandemic and our members deserve an appropriate pay raise. We hope the board can bring something to the table that can put an end to this, but we won’t let them keep kicking the box.
Across North Somerset, recycling collections take place weekly while black bin waste is collected fortnightly. The authority also has three recycling centers in Weston-super-Mare, Portishead and Backwell.
North Somerset Council took over the waste contract last April after breaking its contract with Biffa early. The council is said to have put measures in place now that the strikes have been given the green light.
Three weeks ago, Tim Northover said: “Our members have been pushed to the brink and now they have no choice but to vote with their feet. More and more members are joining every day and it’s no secret that GMB will fight for every penny they deserve. It’s not too late to avoid this, North Somerset can come back to the table with a real offer at any time. My phone is still on.
However, such an agreement was never reached and the strikes are now due to take place in April.
Want our top stories with fewer ads and alerts when the biggest news drops? Download our app on iPhone or Android
Read more related articles Read more related articles
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.somersetlive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-04-04 23:00:00
