Wiltshire bin strike looms as GMB launches ballot

A major bin strike across Wiltshire could cause disruption for more than 250,000 homes.

GMB Union is set to ballot 64 members across three sites run by Hills Municipal Collections Limited in Trowbridge, Salisbury and Calne.

The ballot opens on 21 January and closes on 4 February.

Members are angry after Hills imposed a 2 per cent pay award - amounting to a massive real-terms pay cut – and failed to negotiate meaningfully with GMB.

Nicola Nixon, GMB Regional Organiser said:

“The last thing Wiltshire’s refuse collectors want to do is take industrial action – but Hills have left them with no choice.

“They've refused to negotiate meaningfully and with inflation massively outstripping Hills’ offer, those least able to cope with another in-work poverty pay rise have had enough.

“Strikes are always the last resort. But our members were being commended and classed as key workers last year at the height of the pandemic - now they find that their employer doesn’t properly value them or the service they provide.

“The ball is in the company’s court – they can still negotiate with us and our reps and avoid any industrial action before it has even begun.’’