Rugby bin collectors vote to strike
Bin collections and street cleaning will halt from today
Bin collectors and street cleaners in Rugby will strike from today, Unite the Union has announced.
The strike will centre on “refuse, recycling and street cleaning services” at Rugby Borough Council. Unite has said the strike will last from April 26th and end on May 10th 2022.
Members of Unite are demanding significant pay increases to combate the rising cost of living. Unite has said their workers in Rugby are some of the lowest paid workers when compared to neighbouring councils.
Street cleaners in Rugby earn £17,100 per year, rising to £19,200 after five years. Bin collectors on the other hand, earn £19,200 rising to £21,300 after five years, while drivers earn £21,300 which rises to £23,400 after five years.
Workers are struggling
Rugby Borough Council has released a statement following Unite’s strike action. The council has said: “The settlement, negotiated on a national level by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services and agreed by the Unison and GMB trade unions, granted a 1.75 per cent pay award, which has been backdated to 1 April 2021”.
Sharon Graham, Unite General Secretary, has said: “Rugby Borough Council should hang its head in shame. Instead of recognising that a pay increase is an absolute necessity as living costs spiral upwards, the council has dragged its feet for over a year. These workers are now struggling to put food on the table and pay the bills”.
The council has said they are committed to further dialogue with Unite and will work on minimising the impact of the industrial action.