Around 200 workers employed by Biffa on the outsourced Wirral council refuse contract will begin strike action next week in a dispute over low pay.

Low pay

The workers are making a stand to end low pay rates: HGV drivers being paid just £11.95 an hour, refuse operatives £11.50 and street operatives only £10.76. The workers are seeking a 15 per cent increase in pay to reset their pay rates and also tackle the cost of living crisis, where the real rate of inflation (RPI) currently stands at 14.2 per cent.

The workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, will begin strike action on Monday 5 December with the strike action ending on Saturday 10 December. If the dispute is not resolved then further industrial action is likely.

Hugely wealthy company

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Biffa is a hugely wealthy company that can and should pay a decent rate of pay to its workers.

“Unite’s members cannot and will not tolerate low pay any longer and they will receive the union’s complete support throughout this dispute.”

Biffa is a very wealthy company. This autumn it revealed in its annual report that it had record growth, with revenues increasing by 38.5 per cent.

Huge disruption

Unite regional officer Kenny Rowe said: “The strike action will inevitably cause huge disruption to the residents of Wirral but this dispute is entirely of Biffa’s and the council’s own making. Biffa has had every opportunity to make a fair pay offer and end low pay but it has declined to do so.

“Biffa and Wirral council need to wake up, get round the negotiating table and make a pay offer which meets workers’ expectations.”

ENDS

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.

Email: [email protected]

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.