Waste sector hit by spate of disputes and action

U.K.

 The GMB and Unite trade unions have been mobilising their members in the waste sector in a series of disputes over pay that have led to strike action or the threat of strike action. The longest-running dispute, which began in January, is in Coventry in the West Midlands where the union is currently pursuing a tribunal case against the local authority over victimisation of a trade union activist. Workers in Northampton in the East Midlands employed by Veolia have voted for strike action on 27 April while a vote for action was backed by a 90% majority in Manchester, in a dispute with the Biffa waste company. In South East England a two-week strike, again involving Biffa, is set to go ahead in Wealden on 25 April while a strike at Adur and Worthing is on hold as negotiations resume. Strike action in North Somerset in the South West is also waiting the outcome of further talks while in Solihull in the West Midlands the threat of action secured new deal with a 5.26% pay increase and a minimum rate of £10 (€12) an hour. Finally, industrial action could follow in Cardiff in South Wales of a serious and persistent climate of bullying.

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Jun. 09, 2022

Waste sector disputes rumble on

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Industrial action by waste workers is continuing in a number of local authorities. Drivers in Coventry have just voted unanimously to continue their strike to secure pay levels comparable to the private sector and in line with other local authorities in the region. The strike against the Labour Party-controlled authority began at the end of January. Meanwhile waste workers employed by the Veolia multinational that provides services to Croydon Council in South East London are set to strike for three weeks from 16 June. As with the Coventry dispute, their union, Unite, is calling for pay rates

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Jan. 21, 2022

Pay victory for waste workers as other disputes continue

U.K.

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