Suez Waste Collection (UNITE) Strike Calendar

Strikes by 150 Suez workers, who empty bins on behalf of South Gloucestershire council, will be suspended for three days from Monday (31 July) following an improved offer from the company.

The workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, will now be balloted on the new offer. If the offer is rejected, strikes will begin again on Thursday 3 August.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite has told Suez and the council repeatedly that it stands ready to enter negotiations at any time to bring this dispute to an end. Suez, however, seems keen to prolong disruption to residents for as long as possible because its leadership want to look strong. First it brought in agency staff to try and break the strike – a move that just protracted the situation. Now it is refusing to enter into talks until the end of the month.

Around 150 workers employed by Suez emptying bins on behalf of South Gloucestershire council are to strike in June and July over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Tuesday). The workers voted to strike by 89% after rejecting an eight per cent pay offer from the company, which, according to its latest UK financial returns, brought in profits of £80.8 million in 2021. With the real rate of inflation, RPI, at 11.4% , this is a significant real terms pay cut.

The company’s South Gloucestershire bin loaders earn just £11.53 per hour.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “SUEZ IS AN EXTREMELY PROFITABLE COMPANY BUT IS OFFERING THESE WORKERS A REAL TERMS PAY CUT DURING THE WORST COST OF LIVING CRISIS IN GENERATIONS.”

Unite’s total focus on defending our members’ jobs, pay and conditions will ensure that Suez’s workforce have their union’s absolute support in fighting back against