Wrexham Council Faces Strikes as Workers Protest Pay Changes

About 100 members of the street scene team at Wrexham Council are set to strike for several Saturdays starting from August 30, 2023, in response to proposed changes to their working patterns. The changes would result in workers losing half a day’s pay for every bank holiday, prompting the industrial action aimed at protesting what the union describes as the council’s “unacceptable” handling of the situation.

The Unite union represents refuse workers and those engaged in maintaining parks, gardens, and highways. According to the union, the council’s decision to shift bin collections from bank holiday Mondays to the following Saturdays has created a situation where employees are required to work on Saturdays, a condition that was previously voluntary. Failure to comply may lead to disciplinary measures against the workers.

Union’s Response to Council’s Actions

Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, criticized the council’s approach, stating, “The way Wrexham council has behaved throughout this dispute has been nothing short of a disgrace.” She emphasized that the union maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any actions that undermine workers’ pay and conditions, pledging full support for those participating in the strike.

During a recent meeting between union representatives and council members, a motion was unanimously agreed upon, recommending that the proposed changes should not be implemented. This agreement was intended to negate the need for industrial action. However, the council subsequently communicated that the changes would proceed, disregarding the council’s own recommendation.

The union argues that Wrexham Council has not provided adequate assurances that the changes will not be enacted. They contend that the council’s claim of having consulted fully with Unite and other unions on the proposed changes is misleading. For instance, workers were reportedly given only five days to offer feedback on the alterations to their work conditions.

Financial Context and Council’s Justification

The council has justified the changes as necessary for cost-saving measures, despite having recently received funding of £3,808,252.13 from the Welsh government for waste services. Unite regional officer Jo Goodchild pointed out that the council’s failure to engage constructively with the union has exacerbated the situation. “The responsibility for the lack of bin collections lies squarely with the council, not our members,” Goodchild remarked.

Wrexham Council’s interim chief executive, Alwyn Jones, expressed disappointment over the union’s decision to strike. He noted that significant support has been provided to develop the street scene workforce, including opportunities for pay increases and additional training. Jones highlighted that previous consultations regarding the change had received minimal opposition, with only 19 out of 245 employees expressing disagreement.

He further explained that the financial constraints faced by the council necessitated the implementation of these changes, which are expected to save approximately £100,000 annually. Jones clarified that the funding received for environmental services is earmarked for specific improvements and cannot be redirected towards operational costs without clear evidence of its effective use.

As the strike commences on August 30, 2023, and is scheduled to continue every Saturday until November 15, 2023, both the union and the council are under pressure to find a resolution that addresses the concerns of the workers while ensuring the continuity of services for the residents of Wrexham.