A long-running strike by waste and recycling operatives across South Gloucestershire is officially over after union members voted to accept a new, improved 10 percent pay increase.
Kerbside collections had been disrupted since Monday 12th June 2023 as around 150 employees of SUEZ, the council’s waste contractor, took industrial action in support of a 15 percent pay claim.
The council’s Sort It recycling centre in Little Stoke had also been closed since Monday 26th June.
During the strike, several temporary ‘bring banks’ were set up by the council to allow residents to dispose of their accumulated recycling and food waste.
Kerbside collections of black bins, recycling, food waste and garden waste resumed as normal from Monday this week (31st July 2023) after it was announced that the strike action was being paused for three days while workers were balloted on an improved pay offer. The Little Stoke Sort It centre also reopened from the same date.
For more information, see: Information on waste and recycling services now the industrial action has ended (SGC)
Council statement
Confirmation that the latest pay offer had been accepted came in a news release from Unite the Union on Wednesday afternoon (2nd August 2023).
A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said:
“The latest pay offer from SUEZ our waste contractor, has been accepted by Unite members, putting an end to industrial action.”
“We would like to thank all residents for your patience over the past seven weeks and for managing to store your recycling or take it to one of the pop-up recycling sites or the Sort It centres, especially those who took recycling for others.”
“Please put your bins and recycling containers out on your usual collection dates, including garden waste bins for those who are subscribed. The higher volume of recycling will take crews a bit longer to get round so if your recycling is not collected, please take it back in until the following week.”
The spokesperson added:
“We are expecting there to be a higher volume of recycling which will take the crews a bit longer to get round. If your recycling is not collected, please take it back in until the following week. Crews will not be revisiting missed collections.”
“If your black or green bin is not collected, you should report it here.”
How negotiations evolved
SUEZ previously said in a statement that it had begun negotiations with a 7.5 percent offer in November 2022. This was then upped to 8 percent in an effort to “avert strike action”. With strike action under way in July 2023, the union revised its demand to 10 percent, which prompted the company to up its offer to 9 percent. However, it took a further 1 percent increment in the employer’s offer (to 10 percent) before the union agreed to ballot its members.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:
“Suez workers in South Gloucestershire stood firm in their union and secured a significantly improved offer. This is a well-deserved result for them and more evidence that Unite’s focus on enhancing jobs, pay and conditions is winning for our members.”
In recent weeks, Unite members carrying out refuse services at Bristol Waste and Suez in Somerset have also won pay rises following disputes.
Unite regional officer Ken Fish said:
“This result is another reminder that those wanting to improve their wages and working lives should join Unite and encourage their colleagues to do the same.”
Amended instructions
UPDATE added 7th August 2023.
Amended advice from South Gloucestershire Council, issued on Monday 7th August 2023:
“If your recycling is not collected or your bins are not emptied, please report as a missed collection and leave them out. Crews will be returning for missed collections.”
More services set to resume
UPDATE added 9th August 2023.
Further news on the resumption of services:
“Collections of large household items will resume from Monday 14th August. You can book a slot now.”
“The Revive shop at Thornbury Sort It centre will reopen from Wednesday 16th August. The shop will be open daily 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4pm.”
“If you have requested new recycling boxes or food waste containers since the start of the strike action and you have not received them, you will need to reorder new boxes and containers.”
Source: Email from South Gloucestershire Council
High volumes encountered
UPDATE added 13th August 2023.
“There have been high volumes of recycling and garden waste since our kerbside collections resumed. This means it is taking crews longer to get around and we have not been able to complete all collections each day.”
“Crews are returning for missed collections including garden waste, with catch up collections happening every week day and Saturday. If your bins or containers have not been emptied, please leave them out.”
Source: Tweet from South Gloucestershire Council on 10th August 2023
