Christmas Rubbish Collection Chaos as East London Binmen Announce Strikes
Households across an East London borough are facing a festive season disruption after refuse workers and street cleaners announced a series of Christmas strikes. The industrial action is the result of an ongoing row over pay, with workers employed by FCC Environment on behalf of Waltham Forest Council.
Strike Dates and Affected Areas
The walkouts will cause significant disruption over the busy holiday period. The strikes are scheduled for December 10-12, December 17-19, and December 22-23. The action will then continue into the new year with further strikes on January 2 and from January 5-9.
This means residents in areas including Walthamstow, Leyton, Leytonstone, and Chingford will see their bin collections and street cleaning services severely impacted for a total of 13 days.
Union and Council Responses
The GMB union, which represents the workers, stated that the decision followed a ballot where 97 per cent of its members voted in favour of strike action. Mary Goodson, a GMB Regional Organiser, explained the workers' position, saying, “Our members still have not been offered a decent pay uplift, leaving them no choice but to take strike action. We are willing to get back round the table if FCC come back to us with fair offer.”
From the council's perspective, Councillor Clyde Loakes, the deputy leader and cabinet member for climate and air quality, expressed disappointment. He said, “We are disappointed by the lack of a resolution to this long-running pay negotiation. We urge both parties to continue with the dialogue... But we would like to see both sides come to a swift resolution so that any pay increases can be paid in time for Christmas.”
The stage is now set for a tense period of negotiation, with local residents hoping for a resolution to avoid piles of uncollected waste during the Christmas holidays.
