Sheffield bin strike called off after pay deal reached

A bin strike due to start in Sheffield on Monday has been called off after workers accepted a new pay offer.

GMB union members had voted for the all-out strike over concerns about wages from contractor Veolia.

Workers have since elected to accept a new two-year deal that includes an annual pay increase and a one-off payment.

Lee Parkinson, from GMB, hailed the offer as "pay justice".

Refuse collectors in the city had staged single-day strike actions and had threatened an ongoing walkout from Monday.

The new agreement will see workers receive a backdated 3% increase in year one, a one-off £250 payment for each employee, and a further 3.5% increase for year two, the union said.

Had it gone ahead, the proposed strike could have affected more than 200,000 families across the city over Christmas, the union said.

Mr Parkinson said members at Veolia had "stood together in an act of solidarity".

“They risked their own health and safety during the pandemic to keep operating a service on behalf of Veolia, and it is only right that this year’s pay deal goes some way to reflect their efforts over the last 18 months, " he said.

Veolia said it was "pleased" to have reached an agreement, with recycling and waste collections returning to normal.

"This agreement reflects the hard work and commitment of our staff maintaining services throughout the Covid-19 pandemic," a spokesperson said.

Councillor Terry Fox, leader of Sheffield City Council, thanked residents for their patience during the disruption.

He said: "We're pleased an agreement has been reached between both parties and appreciate the continued efforts of Veolia staff during this time."

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