Bin collections across Bristol face disruption this month as workers have announced three weeks of strike action over pay - including over Bristol Harbour Festival weekend. More than 200 Unite members at Bristol Waste, which collects kerbside rubbish, runs tips and cleans streets, will walk out for seven days from Monday, July 10.
This initial strike period coincides with the Harbour Festival, which takes place from Friday, July 14 to Sunday, July 16. The event sees thousands of people descend on the harbourside for a weekend of music, entertainment, food and drink.
Unite has warned of severe disruption for street cleaning and bin collections during the event. A further 14 days of strike action is then planned from Monday, July 24.
READ MORE: 'Dismay' after unicorn's horn snapped off on trails opening day
Unite has said workers are ‘angry’ at a pay offer covering 17 months of a seven per cent rise, or £2,000 - whichever is greater. “With the real rate of inflation, RPI, running at 11.4 per cent, this is a significant real-terms pay cut,” a spokesperson said.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Bristol Waste has enough money to pay these workers a decent wage rise. They are on poverty wages and do a difficult job in all weathers as committed workers.
Get Bristol news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Daily Newsletter here
“It’s a disgrace that a company wholly-owned by a Labour council is offering its low paid workers what amounts to a substantial real terms pay cut when it is turning such large profits. Unite’s focus is now entirely on our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and Bristol Waste’s workforce will receive all the support they need.”
Earlier this month the union, Unison, which represents 90 workers at Bristol Waste, announced it was also balloting members in a dispute over pay. Bristol Waste has said it is keen to avoid industrial action and is continuing to seek an “outcome all parties can agree on”.
A spokesperson added: “We deeply value the hard work of our crews and the services they provide for the city, and always seek to reflect that in the competitive salaries we offer.”
If you can't see the poll above click here
It comes as South Gloucestershire residents have been warned a “summer of stink” is on the cards as strikes at waste contractors Suez continue.
According to Unite union, the strike of around 150 staff emptying bins on behalf of South Gloucestershire Council has intensified and is "now set to last every day until September".
