Havering bin workers to strike over pay and conditions

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 04:57 · Archive

More than 40 refuse collectors in Havering will strike from 26 to 30 October over pay, workloads and safety concerns.

More than 40 refuse collectors working for FCC Waste Management in Havering will strike from 26 to 30 October. The workers, who are members of Unite, say they have raised concerns with management since the contract was taken over in 2023, but claim the issues have not been resolved.

The union lists excessive workloads, fatigue and hot-weather working, vehicle safety and welfare as key concerns. Workers say they routinely work overtime for rounds to be completed, causing fatigue. During recent summer heatwaves, the union alleges work was not cut short despite high temperatures, leading some loaders to suffer heatstroke. The service is short-staffed, Unite claims, and despite more homes being built in Havering, the number of rounds and workers has not increased to meet demand.

Agency workers have been told they would be offered permanent contracts which have not materialised, according to Unite. Pay is another flashpoint. A new loader in Havering is paid £12.88 an hour compared with £15.72 for an equivalent role in neighbouring Redbridge. New drivers in Havering receive £17.24 an hour compared with £19.89 in Redbridge.

The strike will disrupt bin collections for Havering residents during the five-day period. Unite regional officer Nick West said the union's members did not want residents to face disruption but it was the consequence of FCC failing to resolve the problems. 'Residents are already paying for this service through their council tax,' he said. 'They deserve a service that works and workers deserve decent pay and conditions in which to deliver it.'

How it is being reported

• Bin collections face MAJOR disruption as workers set to strikeHavering bin collections face disruption as more than 40 FCC Waste Management workers strike from October 26 to 30 over pay, safety and working conditions.Brentwood Guardian · 18 Oct, 04:00
• Bin collections face MAJOR disruption as workers set to strikeHavering bin collections face disruption as more than 40 FCC Waste Management workers strike from October 26 to 30 over pay, safety and working conditions.Echo (Basildon) · 18 Oct, 04:00
• Bin collections in Havering to be 'disrupted' as workers go on strikeWorkers say they are being pushed to breaking pointEssexLive · 17 Oct, 06:00

In this story: Havering · FCC Waste Management · Unite · Redbridge · Nick West

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem