Shropshire Star

Rubbish collection stoppages to hit second area in pay dispute

Members of Unite employed by Suez in Doncaster to stage two five-day walkouts in a pay row.

Published
Rubbish bags piled high in Tarry Road, Birmingham as the ongoing industrial dispute between the city's council and refuse collectors continues (Aaron Chown/PA)

Residents in a second area face disruption to rubbish collections because of industrial action by workers at a private contractor.

Members of Unite employed by Suez in Doncaster will stage two five-day walkouts from August 23 and September 2 in a row over pay and jobs.

Unite members in Birmingham have been taking industrial action for weeks in protest at planned job cuts, which has led to rubbish not being collected.

Unite said Suez made a 2% pay offer, conditional on the removal of guaranteed overtime, which the union maintained would result in most workers not receiving an increase.

The company is also planning job cuts, according to Unite.

Regional officer Shane Sweeting said: “Unite recognises that if the strikes go ahead it will have a major effect on local residents but this action is being taken as a last resort.

“We urge Suez to sit down at the negotiating table, make a reasonable pay offer and withdraw its redundancy proposals which will make the contract undeliverable.”

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