Wolverhampton faces waste strike chaos

Household waste could pile high when workers at the city’s incinerator walk out.

GMB union has today announced workers at Wolverhampton City Council’s Energy from Waste site will take strike action this month.

Workers will down tools on Wednesday 20 – Friday 22 March in a dispute with council bosses over pay.

Workers at the site, which processes over 100,000 tonnes of household waste each year, are angry at facing a pay freeze since April 2022 despite cost of living pressures.

Their union, GMB, believes the council are currently breaching the terms of their contract which guarantees annual pay negotiations. Workers at the site are expected to transfer over to a new employer, expected to take place next month

Tom Warnett, GMB Regional Organiser, said:

“Our members are tired of delays and excuses from the council.

“Our door is always open and we will remain open to any discussions with the council or with the new employer to resolve this dispute.

“Until then, we will be giving our members the full support of the union as they prepare to take industrial action.

“However if strike action does go ahead, we do not believe the site can be safely or legally operated and will be working with those responsible to ensure that the plant is safely shut off to protect nearby residents and businesses.”