A planned strike by more than 300 refuse workers employed by Bristol Waste is off, after the workers accepted an improved pay offer.
The strike would have seen workers who collect bins, clean the streets and run the household waste and recycling centres walk out - including over this weekend’s Bristol Harbour Festival.
But an improved offer from bosses at Bristol Waste, which is a company owned by Bristol City Council, has been accepted by workers. They will see their pay rise by 8.5 per cent over the next 12 months, with a one-off payment of £500. The workers will also receive between £2,500 and £3,500 in back pay, as the pay deal is back-dated to November 2022.
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The deal means Bristol’s residents won’t be facing the same sort of disruption as currently being experienced by neighbours in South Gloucestershire, where Unite union members working for the council’s waste firm Suez are continuing their industrial action, leading to streets of uncollected recycling and long queues at recycling centres.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham hailed the deal as a victory for workers in Bristol standing together. “This deal was achieved through the strength of Bristol Waste’s workers standing together with their union and demanding a fair pay rise,” she said.
“Once again, Unite’s unrelenting focus on defending and improving jobs, pay and conditions is putting money in the pockets of our members.”
Unite regional officer Ken Fish added: “This result shows why working people who want to improve their wages and terms and conditions should join Unite and get their colleagues to join as well.”
