Time to stop kicking the can down the road and make an offer that can bring the episode to a close
GMB has announced the dates of industrial action in the North Somerset bin strike.
Almost 100 workers at recycling centres and refuse collection services run by North Somerset Environment Company are set to walk out for six days in April; 12-13, 16 -17 and 21 – 22.
Crunch talks have been held https://t.co/HmD751UTNL
— Somerset Live (@SomersetLive) March 25, 2022
Industrial action is expected to affect 88,000 homes.
Workers are angry after North Somerset Council, who set up the company last year, have only provided funding for a 4.5 per cent pay award over two years.
With inflation running at 7.8 per cent and expected to get even higher, this amounts to a big real terms pay cut.
More than 80,000 homes in North Somerset could be left with piling bins after refuse staff have overwhelmingly voted to strike over pay. https://t.co/cDA2w779id
— Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury (@WSMERCURY) March 7, 2022
Tim Northover, GMB Regional Organiser, said:
“We’re sad that it's come to this point, but this can’t go on forever.
“Members made their views clear a few weeks ago when they gave us the mandate to take strike action, and we were hopeful that the council would see sense and make a serious offer.
“The truth is our members have worked hard during the pandemic and our members deserve a proper pay rise.
“We hope the council can bring something to the table that can bring this to a close, but we won't let them just keep kicking the can down the road.”
