Manchester’s bin strike will take place from 3 – 8 May.
The six days of industrial action 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 are 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.
Michael Clark, GMB Regional Organiser, said:
“More than 200,000 homes now face bin chaos because Biffa is trying to force through a real terms pay cut.
“Refuse collectors worked through the pandemic – meaning Biffa continued to make a healthy profit.
“Now Biffa needs to give something back to those workers.
“GMB calls on Biffa to make a decent offer and head off this industrial action.”
