Manchester could face bin strikes as Biffa staff ballot

Manchester residents could be in store for bin collection chaos this spring as staff are set to vote on whether to strike over an 'insulting' pay offer of 1.75 pc. Around 200 workers employed by outsourced refuse collection company Biffa will vote in the ballot which begins on Tuesday, March 29 and ends on April 12.

Strikes could take place as soon as the end of April if union members - who make up more than half of the workforce - vote in favour of industrial action. Unions say the company is refusing to increase pay for the majority of its staff above the 1.75 pc that local government workers received for 2021, leaving many of its workers with an hourly wage 64p above the minimum wage.

The 'highly profitable' company has committed to continuing talks with trade unions, but Unite general secretary Sharon Graham says Biffa has to 'get real'. She said: "It can easily afford to offer our members a decent pay rise but instead is proposing an insulting pay cut.

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"Biffa must think again and put hard-pressed workers before boardroom greed. Our members at Biffa will be receiving Unite’s full support until this dispute is resolved and a fair offer is made to the workers."

Biffa is proposing to pay loaders and environmental operatives £10.14 an hour, according to the unions which say, the proposed pay of £13 an hour for drivers, who are required to hold HGV licences, is far below standard commercial rates. It comes after Biffa's profits bounced back due to its commercial waste operation being heavily affected by the pandemic and related lockdowns.

But union members have rejected the pay rise offered by the company. Michael Clark, regional