Liverpool refuse workers strike

Members of Unite, employed by Liverpool Streetscene Services Limited (LSSL), are set to undertake industrial action in a dispute over pay.

The 80 plus workers are principally employed in refuse collection, street cleaning and parks and cemeteries. They will begin industrial action on Monday 23 January and it will end on Saturday 28 January.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Our members play a crucial role in keeping Liverpool clean and they deserve a fair days’ pay. LSSL and Liverpool council can’t sweep this issue under the carpet any longer.

“Our members at LSSL will be receiving Unite’s total support throughout this dispute.”

The workers are seeking a pay increase of four per cent and an additional £1,000 to offset the cost of living crisis. Many of the roles they undertake are lowly paid, for example refuse drivers, who must hold a HGV licence, are only paid £14.71 an hour.

LSSL is officially a private enterprise but it is wholly owned by Liverpool council. As such pay rates are linked to local government National Joint Council “green book” pay scales. The workers’ pay demand is in addition to the pay increase they received as part of the green book settlement for 2022/23.

Unite regional officer Brian Troake said, “Unite’s members are taking industrial action as a last resort, as LSSL have refused to address their concerns about the decade long pay restraint and the cost of living crisis.

“Strike action will inevitably cause considerable disruption to refuse collection and other services across Liverpool but this dispute is entirely of LSSL’s own making.”

By Barckley Sumner