Bristol bin workers in vote on strike action

It could lead to rubbish piling up on our streets

Bristol City Council says it "remains keen" to avoid strikes
Author: Victoria ShippPublished 31st May 2023

Bristol could face a stinky summer if bin collectors vote to go on strike, according to union leaders.

Over 200 Bristol Waste workers, who are part of the Unite union, are being balloted on industrial action over the coming weeks.

These strikes, like so many experienced this year, focus on the high rates of inflation.

Workers are concerned about a pay offer from the council, which runs Bristol Waste, which Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has described as “completely unacceptable.”

They have been offered a seven percent increase on pay over the next 17 months, or an extra £2000 (whichever is more), but Unite believe that Bristol City Council can afford a larger raise.

If strikes go ahead, they will affect bin collections, recycling centres and street cleaning, which could result in rubbish pilling up on the streets.

This would only add to the disruptions of Bristolians, who have already seen picket lines from train drivers, nurses, and teachers among other groups.

Workers will have until 13 June to decide whether to take industrial action, with their union declaring that they will back members “all the way.”

In response, a Bristol Waste spokesperson said: “We deeply value the hard work of our crews and the services they provide for the city, and always seek to reflect that in the competitive salaries we offer.

“Given the wider economic challenges that all businesses are facing, and following negotiations with the trade unions, in January we put forward an offer of either a minimum seven per cent pay rise or £2,000 per year, whichever is higher, to April 2024.

"Unfortunately, this offer was rejected.

“We now understand that one of the unions is moving to ballot its members on possible industrial action.

"We remain keen to avoid industrial action and continue to seek an outcome that all parties can agree on.”

Votes are happening on similar strike action in South Gloucestershire and across Somerset.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.