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Bin collectors in an east London borough are to strike over what they claim is unsatisfactory pay. Outsourced refuse workers in Waltham Forest have voted to take industrial action following months of dispute with their employer, FCC Environment. The strikes have been looming since the summer, when members of the GMB union rejected a 2.8% pay offer. A follow-up offer of 3.2% was similarly rejected. Dates are expected to be set for December, but none have been confirmed yet. Of the union members who took part in the ballot, 97% voted in favour. Around a third of workers are with GMB, and turnout was 58%. Mary Goodson, a GMB regional organiser, said: "This strike vote is the culmination of months of subpar pay offers. Our members have told FCC Environment that enough is enough. "They want a proper pay uplift, which reflects their hard work and the high cost of living." A spokesperson for FCC Environment said "our door remains open to talks" but the company would not "negotiate through the media". Clyde Loakes, the deputy leader of Waltham Forest Council, said: "We are disappointed by the lack of a resolution to this long-running pay negotiation, despite changes made to the previous offer made by FCC. We urge both parties to continue with the dialogue that has seen improvements made to the offer so far. "The council has not been involved in any of the pay discussions between FCC Environment and its staff, as that is not within our jurisdiction. But what we do want to see is both sides come to a swift resolution so that any back pay now building up can be included in pay packets in time for Christmas." The town hall is responsible for waste management in the borough, but uses contracted workers to carry out collections. The striking workers are not employed by the council. Throughout the negotiations, GMB has also raised concerns over "inadequate" staff facilities at the waste depot and "insufficient" water supplies for workers. Union member Gary Bering said this week: "We are tired of FCC's poor pay and conditions. "We do a vital job for the borough, come rain or shine. The least we deserve is a decent pay packet so we can pay our bills." Last month the GMB union said it would formally ballot members who work in Richmond over stike action in another dispute over pay.
