Leicestershire Waste and Recycling Workers to Ballot on Strike Over Proposed Pay Cuts

A union has announced that workers in tip, waste, and recycling services are undergoing a ballot for potential strike action, prompted by proposed pay reductions. According to the GMB Union, approximately 60 employees face an annual loss of £2,000 each due to a decision by Leicestershire County Council to implement these changes starting next April. The union stated that council management withdrew from discussions aimed at resolving the disagreement and will now proceed with a ballot, scheduled to commence in early January. The county council, for its part, stated that the decision was not made without careful consideration but was necessary to reduce expenditures because of “increasing financial pressure.” The union indicated that if its members approve industrial action, strikes might occur in March. David Warwick, a GMB organiser, commented: “This is a cruel move from a council that has completely lost control of its own finances.” He added, “To make low-paid Leicestershire workers pay the price for the failures of the council’s leaders.” Warwick further noted that “GMB members will now take stock of the council’s decision and are preparing to ballot for strike action in January.” Leicestershire County Council clarified that several adjustments to the operating days of certain waste sites were approved following public consultation, and this initiative is projected to save £300,000 annually. A spokesperson for the council stated that “a number of employees will be impacted by these changes through typically having their working hours reduced by three hours a week.” The spokesperson added, “The affected staff will be paid for a minimum of 37 hours each week, which is the same as most other council employees.” It was also noted that “For the majority, the reduction of hours will start in April 2025, to align with the revised summer opening times.” Furthermore, the spokesperson confirmed, “We have been consulting with staff about proposed changes since July 2024 and have fully taken part in discussions with the unions in relation to them.”