Bin strike looms in Calderdale over pay dispute

Servcies could be affected by industrial action next week as members of UNISON, Britain’s largest trade union, are planning to walk out over a pay dispute with Suez – the company which runs the services on behalf of Calderdale Council.

The lowest paid bin loaders currently earn only £7.93 per hour – 10p above the minimum wage – but were they employed directly by the Council they would be earning at least the ‘real’ Living Wage rate of £8.75 per hour (due to be increased to the new rate of £9.00 next year).

"Suez is a multi billion pound company making huge profits and it needs to put an end to the poverty wages it pays some of its workers and the fact that others are earning significantly below par for the job they do. Our members work in a hard job in all weathers and deserve much better than this.

"There is still time left to avoid this strike but Suez needs to come up with a fair pay offer quickly.”

The strike action, planned for December 3 and 4, will be followed by an overtime ban for the rest of the week.

Should a resolution not be quickly achieved before next week then significant disruption is expected as 94.9% of those balloted voted in favour of the strike action.