Manchester residents face a bin strike after workers voted for industrial action today
GMB Union will now meet with members to discuss dates for the strike, which could affect up to 220,000 homes.
More than 90 per cent of the workers, employed by outsourced waste management company Biffa, voted for industrial action – on a turnout of more than 60 per cent.
The dispute stems from Biffa is refusing to increase wages for the majority of the workers above the 1.75 per cent that local government workers received for 2021.
In spite of extensive negotiations Biffa has refused to increase its offer, despite it being a private company and therefore not bound by public sector pay restraint policies.
The workers – who are members of both GMB and Unite unions – include drivers, loaders and environmental operatives.
Despite its commercial waste operation being heavily affected by the covid pandemic and several lockdowns, Biffa remains highly profitable, recording pre-tax profits of £26 million last year says the Union
Michael Clark, GMB Regional Organiser, said:
“Manchester’s residents now face a bin strike.
“The city’s refuse collectors and street scene services worked through the pandemic, doing a tough job.
“Now they need help to get them through the biggest fall in living standards for 50 years.
“GMB’s door is open – we urge Biffa to come back to us with a decent offer to stop this strike before it begins.”
