Bin collection strikes over reduced pay called off

More than 100 refuse workers were set to walk out on Saturday amid a dispute over pay and working patterns

Bin collection strikes over refuse workers' pay and working patterns have been called off after "successful" negotiations.

More than 100 members of the Unite union, who work in the street scene operation team at Wrexham council, were pushing back against changes to overtime hours which saw them given compulsory Saturday shifts.

Refuse workers, as well as those working on parks, gardens and highways, were set to walk out on 30 August and every Saturday from then until 15 November.

But following discussions between the union and Wrexham council, a new consultation will commence on employees working bank holidays, while Saturday will be a voluntary working day.

The dispute was over planned changes to working patterns that would have seen workers lose half a day's pay every bank holiday.

It came after the council changed bank holiday Monday bin collections to the Saturday following the bank holiday, meaning workers would have to compulsorily work Saturdays and were threatened with disciplinary action if they did not attend when previously they could volunteer to do overtime.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said the strike would have been "highly disruptive", adding that the "hard work of Unite representatives' in negotiations" meant workers were able to retain the conditions they were previously used to.

The changes also meant Unite members' pay would have been reduced for overtime, following several years of below inflation pay rises as well as this year's below-inflation offer to local authority workers of 3.2 %, the union said.

The new open consultation will look at potential changes to the working day, with both sides committing to a conclusion by Christmas.

Alwyn Jones, Wrexham council's interim chief executive, said both parties were pleased to "reach a common ground", and were "committed to strengthening relationships and maintaining services" for the people of Wrexham.

Mr Jones confirmed services scheduled to be delivered on Saturday, including waste and recycling collections, would continue as planned.