Biffa drivers mull strike action as pay talks break down

Strike action could be on the cards among Biffa drivers on the Wirral after negotiations over pay reached a stalemate.

A postal ballot among 180 workers at Biffa Waste Services is now being prepared and union Unite said that if, as expected, workers vote for action then “a strike is inevitable”.

Negotiations have been ongoing since 2019 over a pay claim, which Unite said was unreasonable and in addition the company had announced its intention to move workers from weekly pay to monthly pay, without consultation or safeguards.

The union said it had no confidence in Biffa paying workers correctly, with serious mistakes in pay being made on a regular basis under the current payroll.

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It said residents on the Wirral could be left with piles of uncollected rubbish unless Biffa agreed to its members’ pay claim:

“If strike action does go ahead then inevitably bin collections will not be made and rubbish will be uncollected,” said Steve Gerrard, Unite regional officer.

“The prospect of strike action is very real, however; it is incumbent on Biffa to enter into a meaningful consultation and negotiations regarding the proposed transfer to monthly pay and meet the pay claim of our members if strike action is to be avoided.”

A Biffa spokesman said: “Biffa has been in talks with our employees and their representatives and have offered a generous pay increase which is in excess of the current wage inflation indices.

“We remain committed to continuing the dialogue to reach an amicable conclusion with our employees and their representatives on this matter.”