Incinerator crew take to picket line in pay row

Workers at the Energy from Waste site say they have not received a pay rise in two years

Workers at Wolverhampton's incinerator have gone on strike as part of a pay dispute.

About 20 GMB union members at the city's Energy from Waste downed tools on Thursday in a dispute with the city council.

The site in Crown Street was shut during the industrial action because of safety concerns, the union said.

The City of Wolverhampton Council said it remained disappointed staff have continued with their strike action.

Workers at the site, which processes more than 100,000 tonnes of household waste each year, have not received a rise in salary since April 2022, the union said.

Members allege the local authority is breaching the terms of their contracts which guarantee annual pay negotiations.

All workers at the site are set to be transferred to new employer North Midlands Operations Limited in April, the union added.

Tom Warnett, GMB Organiser, said: “Strike action at Wolverhampton’s only incinerator is already causing havoc as waste piles up.

“There are major safety concerns as trucks continue to unload household waste, with no one there to process it.

“Our members do dangerous and dirty work. They’re struggling through a cost-of-living crisis with an employer blocking pay talks for over two years."

A spokesperson for the city council said the incinerator was being managed in a "safe and compliant manner" and bin collections were not affected.

“The council remains committed to working with the staff and GMB to seek resolution to this dispute," they added.