Amey says its waste and recycling centres will stay open and household general waste, food waste and garden waste will be prioritised amid fears of a strike from its refuse collectors.
The waste contractor on the Isle of Wight says it has seen a notification of a 2-week walkout by GMB Union members on 13th June, as previously reported by Island Echo.
On the issue Amey has said:
“We are working with the council to make sure there is minimal impact to all our waste services across the Island. HWRCs will also continue to remain open, where household waste and recycling waste can be brought”.
However, those wanting to use the sites at Lynbottom and Afton Marsh will still have to book a time slot to get rid of their waste.
The reasons behind the strike centre around the rising costs of food, fuel and household bills with GMB believing that if those demands are met then there would be no need for a walkout or further action.
As a result, the GMB Union wants its loaders/pickers to earn £12.50 per hour, cage drivers and driver and grab operatives to get £13.25 per hour and a £15 hourly rate for HGV drivers.
Currently, just under half of the Isle of Wight waste workforce are members of the GMB union. Amey says that of those, 77.8% of its Amey-employed members who were eligible to vote in the ballot. 90.5% of them supported taking action.
Amey adds:
“Amey has and will continue to engage directly with their employees to discuss their concerns, and to avoid any action”.
The reason for the strike centres around the cost of living !!!!
Food costs utilities etc ….
They want £12-50 ph and higher increases for various other job titles !!!!!!
Newsflash everyone’s bills food etc have gone up !!!!!!
And striking will see them losing money, so how will they cope with that ??????
Also 1 week they say it’s because the mainland pays more for same job’s then it’s rising costs !?!?!….
Which is it ??????
It is true mainland rates are higher, but so is the cost of living in many other areas.
People used to accept that wages were lower here, BUT you gained in a better quality of life with less crime, quieter roads and beaches, miles of countryside nearby etc, slower pace of life, and less imported people so you knew families and people around you, knew who to trust, and the odd few to avoid.
Now many of the ‘benefits’ of living here have been taken thanks to our Council and our Governments plan to fill both the Island and UK with as many bodies as is feasible so the rich land and rental home owners gain,but we pay the price.
Very well said
All the extra on bills applies to EVERYONE, not just the bin men and those on tax credits.
So ALL workers should get a rise or none.
Those people who don’t work, or only work a few hours and get their rent, council tax and free food parcels don’t deserve or need a rise as they selfishly chose to add more mouths to feed in their impoverished state to the population by their choosing.
Working age people who are not working have to pay a % of Council tax
A few years back, teachers would try to encourage children, then boys, to behave in class or put in more effort, saying such things like “if you don’t learn you will end up being a dust-man”.
So, times rightly move forward, and people should not be judged on intellect by their job, but similarly they also don’t deserve anymore due to inflation than the rest of society.
Comparing wages to different areas is not right, as London will have a higher living cost than up North.
People used to accept lower wages and standard of living for having a safe, beautiful holiday Isle in which to live and have a family. Now they want it all
What do they want ?
Hello we have the poor NHS staff and other people in similar jobs to them finding it hard!
Have they I have a fault about how the community carers feel as they like some of the NHs staff have to use there own cars to see clients and so it costing them a lot more as sorry didn’t think they had to fill up amey vehicles I thought amey the company did that.
Also I put them in the same boat as everyone else who working, Elderly/vulnerable or disabled as we are all feeling it.
The one that are not are the one who have children for money and what us to pay for their lifestyle after we done a 13 hour shift.
Question.
IF less than half of their employees are actually Union members, how is it right that they can drag the ‘majority’ who are not out on strike?!
They can’t, the IW is fall of scabs.
They can’t, it comes down to peer pressure and the threat of missing out if they don’t join the GMB.
So they are paid less than their mainland counterparts employed for the same company.
just because they live on a beautiful Island.
If this is the case surely this should also apply to other key workers
such as teachers/ police officers nurses prison officers etc.
What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.
THEY ARE !
AND THEY DO !
( Not the dustmen ). Tho.
Nurses get paid less than this on the Isle of Wight. The mainland are also struggling with living costs, but they are not striking. I think Amey sound like a reasonable employer, paying a higher % than NHS pay increases.
NO THEY DON’T.
Blatant Lie !
Please feel free to enlighten us of where and when you get your information from…?
https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0508-VC192A
£25,655 / 52 / 37.50 = 13.15 per hour.
Literally Slim. You’re arguing with me over a fact, a literal fact.
I have literally posted a job advert for a nurse in Mountbatten with a starting salary of £13.15 per hour.
What part of what I sent to you is not a fact?
Junior Doctors don’t even get 40k.
Your sister may be a nurse and she may get 40k, but I guarantee that 40k is made up of overtime, and other enhancements – which I’m sure bin men get paid overtime and if they work unsociable hours would also receive enhancements.