Wrexham could be set for bin strikes as workers balloted
Street Scene operators include refuse workers as well as those working on parks, gardens and highways.
A Unite union spokesperson claims: "Previously, they were given additional days off over Christmas and can volunteer to work overtime. However, the council forced through changes without any consultation with workers or Unite, which means they now have to compulsorily work Saturdays.
"This is a choice by the employer to extend the working week without agreement and means every worker would lose half a day's pay."
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary said: "The way Wrexham Council has attempted to force through these changes to working patterns, without any negotiations, is nothing short of a disgrace.
"Unite will always fight to protect our members' conditions at work and they will have our full support throughout this dispute."
The union claims the changes implemented by Wrexham Council will also see Unite members' pay reduced for overtime without agreement with workers or any negotiations with Unite.
The union also claims that affected workers have already endured years of below inflation pay rises as well as this year's below-inflation offer of 3.2 per cent.
The ballot closes on August 5 and industrial action could take place in late August.
Unite members are also considering any potential strike action to take place over Christmas, when households usually have more rubbish needing to be removed than usual.
Simon Ellis, Unite regional officer said: "Any bin strike in Wrexham would be extremely disruptive and we know people living in the city will not be pleased to hear about this potential action.
"This is an easy dispute to fix, by maintaining our hardworking members' currently-agreed hours and overtime pay and we urge the council to come back to the negotiating table before it is too late."
Alwyn Jones, Wrexham Council's interim chief executive said: "We are extremely disappointed to see Unite the Trade Union take this action especially after the lengthy and prolonged consultation the organisation undertook as part of the annual budget setting process in the 2024/25 financial year.
"It is important to note that given the difficult financial position public services find themselves in, the public in Wrexham have and continue to be faced with ever increasing Council Tax bills plugging gaps in finances across the council area and protecting public service delivery.
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"The council embarked on an extensive transformation programme in an attempt to negotiate the difficult decisions that are required to ensure we remain financially solvent. All of the recognised trade unions have been party to consultation on the detail of the budget savings proposals.
"This particular saving, relating to switching refuse collections to Saturdays rather than Bank holidays brings in over £100k of savings. The proposal has been through all of the council's processes and committee cycles and consultation processes.
"The department also undertook extensive consultation with the workforce on the proposals with only 19 individual responses amongst a workforce of 245 employees disagreeing with the plans.
"Wrexham County Borough Council has worked hard to save jobs and continue to support in-house delivery of public services especially these frontline services. We remain committed to this principle and are very upset that this trade union has chosen to take this action and potentially put the public in the County Borough through another period of unnecessary service disruption."
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