Swindon & Wiltshire News
Household recycling cancelled in Wiltshire as union rejects Hills’ pay offer
Household recycling collections have been suspended in Wiltshire after one of three unions that represents employees of the county council’s waste contractor, Hills Municipal Collections, turned down a pay offer.
Two of the three unions that represent workers – Unite and Unison – accepted a revised 7.1 per cent pay rise, but GMB union members declined the offer, and went on strike this week for two weeks.
Employees who have accepted the offer will receive a pay increase of at least two per cent backdated to October 2021, with an additional five per cent pay rise from 1 March 2022.
The annual pay review date has also been brought forward from October 2022 to May 2022, with the next annual pay review due to take place in May 2023.
A spokesperson for Hills said: “We are really pleased that Unite members were able to come to this decision as the offer we put forward provides a fair settlement in relation to inflation and indexation, which we know is impacting the cost of living.
“The offer is in line or ahead of comparable local pay awards and it provides positive certainty in a time of increasing volatility.”
Wiltshire Council said the strike action was causing “significant disruption to services.”
Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for waste, said: “We expect the recycling service to resume again week beginning 21 March, and we thank people for their patience while we work hard to mitigate the impact for residents.”
The suspension of recycling services does not affect general household waste or garden waste collections.
