The bins strike set to hit around 250,000 homes across Wiltshire is back on – starting on Monday for two weeks.

The strike of bin workers at Hills Municipal Collections bases at Trowbridge, Calne and Salisbury was put on hold after the company has upped its pay offer.

The strike was threatened because workers wanted a seven per cent pay rise and the company had previously offered two per cent. The GMB union indicated that the new offer is less than a seven per cent rise.

Negotiations appear to have failed as the firm announced the strike would go ahead.

In a statement it said: “Hills Municipal Collections’ latest pay offer has been rejected by members of the GMB Union and notification has been given that strike action affecting household waste and recycling collections in Wiltshire will commence on Monday March 7 for two weeks.

“The number of union members who are likely to strike has been reduced following UNISON members accepting the pay deal. Hills Municipal Collections is also awaiting Unite Union’s response to the offer which is due next week.”

A spokesperson for Hills added: “This is a very disappointing outcome.  We have moved our offer considerably over the previous weeks and we firmly believe that the pay offer provides a fair settlement in relation to inflation and indexation, which we know is impacting the cost of living.

“The offer is in line or ahead of comparable local pay awards and it provides positive certainty in a time of increasing volatility.

 “Hills Municipal Collections teams will work with Wiltshire Council to minimise disruption to household collection services.  This industrial action has been timed to coincide with the roll-out of new collection rounds, and we ask for resident’s understanding whilst we do all we can to deal with the issue.”

A GMB union spokesman said: “Our members have voted to reject the offer as it continues to remain short of their expectations and valuation of their own worth.

“The latest offer also contains a unilateral moving of the agreed pay anniversary by Hills going forward, a move that will see low paid workers having to wait an extended period of time before they can seek to commence any new pay negotiations.

Nicola Nixon GMB regional organiser added: “One of the absolute red lines for GMB members was that any future pay anniversary dates should not be moved further off into the distance, because members who have not seen in real term terms pay rise since 2019 should not after one proposed pay increase to commence addressing in work poverty pay rates, then have to wait at least 18 months to argue for another.

Her colleague Gary Palmer, also a GMB regional organiser, said: “It’s a shame because we thought we were getting really close to an offer our members could consider, but snatching defeat from the jaws of victory might be the overall plan for Hills, even as the threat of strike action grows closer.

“Their problem is that every offer falling short of our members claim, simply angers and pushes their own staff towards deeper discontent with how they are being treated, we have offered the potential solution and it’s now the responsibility of Hills to come to the table and accept that or take ownership of the disruption to services, and the inevitable affect homes and businesses across the county.” 

Wiltshire Council says it will be working with Hills to minimise the impact as much as possible.

Residents are advised that they should put their bins out for collection by 7am on their scheduled collection day. 

However, the council says, if a bin is not emptied as scheduled due to the planned industrial action or because of any other issues, then residents should leave them out and it’s expected they will be emptied the following day where possible.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Waste, said: “Our new waste collection rounds have gone really smoothly so far and I’d like to thank residents for their support during this transition.

“We will do everything we can to limit the disruption caused by the industrial action. We have contingency plans in place in case of a situation like this, which we hope will help to keep disruption for residents to a minimum.

“If there are any bins not emptied as scheduled then we ask people to leave them out and the teams will do their best to collect them the following day.

“The industrial action is out of our direct control and is a matter for the GMB and Hills Municipal Collections. However, I know that Wiltshire residents will share my bitter disappointment that we face an elevated risk of disruption to services due to this revised pay offer being rejected by the GMB.

“We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this time.”

Residents should continue to place their bins out for collection as normal, and check Wiltshire Council’s social media feeds or visit wiltshire.gov.uk for up-to-date information on waste collection services in their area.