Wiltshire Council has "strongly condemned" the actions of the GMB union this week. 

It comes after its picket lines resulted in sites being blockaded during the ongoing industrial action and leading to what the council has described as "major safety concerns".

Wiltshire Council says that on numerous occasions during the current industrial action between GMB and Hills Municipal Waste Collections, picket lines have "exceeded the number of people typically allowed under picketing guidance" and that vehicles appear to have been "intentionally prevented from leaving Wiltshire Council-run depots".

This, says the council, has put the safety of people at the sites at serious risk.

Read more: Watch as GMB binmen strike over pay in Salisbury

A statement from the council said: "Government picketing guidance is clear that staff not willing to strike and wishing to carry on with their normal duties must not be prevented from doing so.

"The GMB approach has also resulted in more avoidable disruption being caused to waste services, with Wiltshire Council postponing recycling services until the week of March 21".

Councillor Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council, added: “We completely respect people’s right to strike, but we believe the actions of the GMB union at the picket lines have not been in the best interest of their members and are seriously putting people’s safety at risk.

“We fully agree with the GMB when they say that health and safety is of paramount importance but their actions at this time are contributing to putting the safety of both their members and the vehicle crews at risk.

“Vehicles should not be being blocked from leaving our depots and picket lines should be positioned in a safe legal place. The number of pickets should not exceed the number of people allowed for in the accepted guidance.

“The scenes we’ve seen at our depots have not been acceptable and we hope the GMB union can help ensure that their members stay as safe as possible, and follow lawful picket line guidance in exercising their right to strike.

“These actions are leading to an even more adverse impact on our waste collection services and further disruption for our residents.”

The leaders of the Labour, Liberal Democrats and Independent groups have all been contacted for comment. 

Hills Municipal Collections has announced that two of the three unions in the Tri-Union recognition agreement have accepted the revised offer of a 7.1 per cent pay rise and will not be taking part in the ongoing strike action with GMB union members.

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