Strike action will cause disruption until Monday 20 November.
A bin strike is taking place from Wednesday 8 November to Monday 20 November
A third round of bin strikes by UNITE is taking place until Monday 20 November. We continue to call on the trade union to immediately cancel its plans to conduct its unnecessary strike action.
Following a national meeting of the three trade unions on Wednesday 1 November – GMB, UNISON and UNITE – there was an agreement to accept the national pay offer. This offer will give our waste collection loaders and drivers a pay increase of between 7.6% and 8.6%, depending on their role.
We therefore see no basis or need for there to be any further strike action.
Fourth strike notice
UNITE has also announced a fourth strike between Tuesday 21 November and Monday 4 December.
We believe that a fourth wave of strike action would be entirely unacceptable, disproportionate and continues the disruption to our residents and businesses.
We are seeking a legal view
We have been taking legal advice around the previous and current bin strikes, on the basis that Unite’s dispute has been because of the national pay award, which was settled on 1 November.
We have always said that further strike action has been an unnecessary and disproportionate measure given the resolution of the 2023/24 pay award negotiations.
We have now written to Unite, through our Solicitors, to ask for immediate confirmation that their continuing strike action will be cancelled. We have set out the basis of why this should be so.
As always, our established and formal channels for all of our recognised Trade Unions remain open for any local issues to be raised and discussed.
How you can help
Use our recycling centres
You can continue to use our community recycling centres, which have extended opening hours.
Separate your recycling into cardboard, glass bottles and jars, tin cans and recyclable plastic to make it easy for you once you get to the recycling centre.
Woolston community recycling centre
8am – 6pm, Monday to Sunday (extended hours)
Gatewarth community recycling centre
8am – 6pm, Monday to Sunday (extended hours)
Stockton Heath community recycling centre
9am – 4pm, Monday to Sunday (extended hours)
You should also
- Flatten any household waste before putting it in the bin so that you can fit more in (but make sure not to pack waste in too tightly that it risks not being able to be emptied properly)
- Talk to your neighbours about sharing bin space so all bins are filled
- If you have the space and your bin is full, keep your recycling waste indoors
Bin strike FAQs
Who is striking?
Members of the Trade Union UNITE are striking in Warrington as part of a national pay dispute.
When does the strike action end?
The second wave of strike action ran from Tuesday 24 October until Monday 6 November, with a third strike taking place Wednesday 8 November to Monday 20 November.
Why can’t I check my bin collection date/report a missed bin online?
We have removed these pages on our website where you can normally check when your bin is due to be emptied or report a missed bin to us. This is so people won’t get confused and we will reinstate these pages after the strike action finishes.
Will I get a refund on my council tax because my household waste/recycling bin has not been emptied?
We understand that not having your household waste or recycling bins emptied is frustrating.
That being said, council tax is and remains a tax. That means households legally have to pay their council tax bill, even if services are disrupted, or even if people don’t use certain services. A mechanism for this type of refund does not exist.
We are working on plans to make sure that a waste and recycling catch-up operation happens after the strike action.
I am a garden waste subscriber, what will happen with these collection?
We will be in touch with our garden waste subscribers in due course.
I am a commercial waste subscriber, what will happen with these collections?
We will be in touch with our commercial waste subscribers to offer updates directly.
Can you pay agency staff to empty the bins?
By law, we are banned from paying agency workers to cover the duties performed by a worker who is taking part in a strike. This prevents us from employing agency workers to cover the duties of employees on strike.
