Union bosses are warning residents and officials that the town of Bristol, UK could be set up for “foul-smelling summer” if more than 200 of Bristol Waste go on strike.
The strike for the staff at the Bristol City Council-owned waste company stems from, what they deem, a “completely unacceptable” pay offer from the company. The staff at Bristol Waste are part of the Unite union and are being balloted over the offer.
The vote began today and will last two weeks.
Bristol Waste is facing a massive staff shortage as it is and is looking at having more than 200 more staff members go on strike, significantly impacting the collection ability of the company. Earlier in May, Bristol Waste was already on the hook for missing more than 600 streets each day, backing up the collection process.
“Bristol Waste, which is wholly owned by Bristol council, can well afford to pay these workers a decent rise,” said Unite leader Sharon Graham.
“It is completely unacceptable that a Labor council is leaving its workers to struggle with rocketing living costs when the business it is employing them through is making such large profits. Bristol council and Bristol Waste need to come back with a better offer and soon because Unite will be backing our members all the way.”