A two-week Wiltshire bin strike affecting 250,000 homes is set to go ahead on Monday [7 March 2022] after GMB members turned down a new pay offer. 

The industrial action was due to begin on 28 February, but was postponed after Hills Municipal Collections made an improved offer. 

GMB took the latest updated offer to members across all three affected sites in this dispute – they voted to reject the offer as it remains short of their expectations. 

The latest offer included moving the agreed pay anniversary, meaning ow paid workers would have to wait longer to start any more pay negotiations. 

Gary Palmer, GMB Regional Organiser, said: 

“It’s a shame, because we thought we were getting really close to an offer our members could consider in good faith. 

“It appears snatching defeat from the jaws of victory might be the overall plan for Hills, even as the threat of strike action grows closer. 

“Their problem is that every offer they make which falls short of our members’ self-valuation, makes them angrier and more unhappy with how they are being treated. 

“We have offered a solution and it’s now the responsibility of Hills to come to the table and accept that, otherwise they have to take ownership of the disruption to services and the effect this will have on homes and businesses across the county.”