Bin collector strike dates announced for Norfolk in March

Unison the union said its members in North Norfolk and Breckland would strike the week starting March 13 unless their employer, Serco, returned to the negotiating table. 

But Serco - which is the district councils’ waste contractor - said the union’s demands were “several times the rate of inflation, which is unrealistic, unaffordable”.

Cameron Matthews, Unison’s eastern regional organiser, said: “It’s a real shame that Serco can’t dip into its incredibly deep pockets to pay its workers in Breckland and North Norfolk a fair wage.

“Unfortunately Serco seems willing to hit both workers and residents in their hard-headed desire to keep wages down.

“We urge the firm to come back around the negotiating table with a new, fair deal so we can avoid these strikes.”

Serco said it had already offered an above-inflation pay offer, which had been accepted by workers in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.

A spokesman said: “To avert strike action and disruption to residents we would like to urge our employees to reconsider our offer."

North Norfolk union leaders have said averting a bin collectors’ strike should be a greater focus of the district council (NNDC).

At the council’s full meeting on February 22, David Russell, vice chairman of the North Norfolk Trades Union Congress (TUC), said operatives and loaders at Serco’s Aylsham depot were paid £9.50 an hour and had been offered  £11, and HGV drivers were paid £11.50 an hour and had been offered £13.50.

David Russell (Image: Supplied by the Labour Party)

Mr Russell said: “I wonder how many of the council would get out of bed for that at 4am?”