Blaby bin strike delayed for last-minute talks

The GMB wants a 15% pay rise for staff on top of a national offer

Planned industrial action by refuse workers in Blaby has been delayed for 24 hours for last-minute talks.

The workers were due to strike from Tuesday until 18 August in a protest over pay.

However, the strike has now been delayed until Wednesday to allow for a meeting between Blaby District Council and the GMB union.

People who live in the district, whose refuse is collected on Tuesday, will have their bins collected as planned.

The council has now advised residents - whose bins are due to be collected on Wednesday - to still put them out as normal and said it would issue further updates via the authority's website.

The GMB has asked for a 15% pay rise for workers on top of a potential £1,925 increase on offer across the country.

GMB regional organiser Sarah James said: "When we submitted our pay claim we were asking for a cost of living crisis increase in the region of 15%.

"We never said it was always that amount and there is always room for negotiation and movement."

She said the strike had been postponed as a gesture of good faith.

Blaby District council leader Terry Richardson told the BBC he was pleased Tuesday's strike had been called off to allow for talks.

He said: "We are looking to see if we can resolve matters.

"The GMB is asking the council to bypass national pay negotiations."

He said the council could not legally make a local offer on pay adding there was a national-level offer on the table.

The council has previously said a 15% rise is "unachievable".