Merseyside is bracing for waste chaos over the Christmas period with workers set to walk out on strike.
Waste workers at 22 tip sites run by Veolia across the region will begin industrial action on Wednesday, December 28, with the initial round of action continuing until Saturday, December 31. There are then further strikes planned beginning on Monday, January 2 until Saturday, January 7 and again from Sunday, January 15 until Saturday, January 21.
The action is being held as Unite members employed by Veolia in Merseyside fight for a better pay offer. The union has accused the company of being "scrooge-like" for only offering a 20 pence increase for its workers.
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Unite says the majority of the workers are paid just £9.50 an hour, including those who have a HGV class two driving licence, with class one HGV drivers receiving just £11.87 an hour.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The spirit of Scrooge is alive and kicking this Christmas. Veolia is an incredibly wealthy company. Its workers are already poorly paid but somehow it thinks it is acceptable to offer them just a few pence extra, during the worst cost of living crisis in a generation.
“Unite is entirely committed to defending and enhancing the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and the workers at Veolia will receive the union’s complete support.”
The union is seeking an increase of 50 pence an hour for the majority of the staff, increasing pay to £10 an hour, with class two HGV drivers being paid £12 an hour and class one drivers receiving £14.47 an hour. As part of the pay claim, Unite expects the differentials to be maintained when the national minimum wage increases in April 2023. So far, Veolia has only been prepared to offer a 20 pence an hour pay increase.
Unite regional officer John McColl said: “The strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption at the busiest time of the year as residents seek to get rid of household waste. This dispute is completely of Veolia’s own making, they can fully make a fair pay offer but have chosen not to. Veolia needs to return to the negotiating table and make a pay offer which meets our members’ expectations.”
A Veolia spokesperson said: "We recognise the hard work of our teams in Merseyside and Halton in delivering essential public services for the community and this is reflected in our improved package for 2022/2023, covering both pay and conditions.
"We remain committed to engage in constructive discussions with Unite the Union and its members to find a resolution for our staff and avoid disruption to services.”
Here is a full list of all the recycling centres and waste transfer facilities to be hit by strike action:
West Kirby recycling centre, Greenbank road, West Kirby, CH48 5HL
Southport recycling centre, Foul Lane, Southport, PR8 5LA
Sefton meadows recycling centre, Sefton Lane, Maghull, L31 8BT
South Sefton recycling centre, Irlam Road, Bootle, L20 4AE
Ravenhead recycling centre, Burtonhead Road, St Helen’s, WA9 5EA
Rainhill recycling centre, Tasker Terrace, Rainhill, L35 4NX
Picow Farm recycling centre, Picow Farm Road, Runcorn WA7 4UD
Otterspool recycling centre, Jericho Lane ,Liverpool, L17 5AR
Old swan recycling centre, Cheadle Avenue, Liverpool,L13 3AF
Newton Le Willow recycling centre, Junction Lane, Newton Le Willow, WA12 8DN
Kirkby recycling centre, Depot Road, Knowsley Industrial Park, L33 3AR
Johnson’s Lane recycling centre, Johnson’s Lane, Widnes, WA8 OSJ
Huyton recycling centre, Wilson Road, Huyton, L36 6AD
Formby recycling Centre, Altcar Road,Formby, L37 8DL
Clatterbridge recycling centre, Mount Road, Bebington, Wirral, CH63 4J7
Bidston recycling centre, Wallasey Bridge Road, Birkenhead, CH41 1EB
Gillmoss Material Recovery Facility (MRF), Bridgehouse Lane,Liverpool, L10 5HA
Bidston Material Recovery Facility (MRF), Wallasey Bridge Road, Wirral, CH41 1EB
Southport Transfer Station, Foul Lane, Southport, PR8 5LA
Gillmoss Transfer Station, Bridgehouse Lane,Liverpool, Liverpool, L10 5HA
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