REFUSE workers, street cleaners and tip workers are set to walk out on strike over pay.
GMB union have announced a second week of strike action in Solihull, with workers on council contracts walking out over ‘low pay’ from council contracting companies.
The strike will take place for one week from September 4 and impact refuse and street cleaning and tip workers employed by Veolia and grounds, park and cemetery workers employed by Idverde.
Rebecca Mitchell, GMB organiser, said: “It’s fast becoming clear that Solihull Council is facing a contractors crisis, with staff on two of their biggest maintenance contracts taking strike action next week.
“Idverde have already seen a week of disruption, impacting Solihull’s parks in one of the busiest periods.
“Now Veolia too are feeling forced to take strike action as a cost-of-living crisis drives their living standards down.
“It’s time for the Council to get serious about the disruption this will cause and stop washing their hands of the situation.
“Solihull workers deserve so much better than poverty pay from contracting giants only interested in making a profit at the expense of local tax payers.”
The week-long strike comes after Idverde workers downed tools between July 31 and August 4, seeing disruption to Solihull’s parks and green spaces.
A spokesperson for Veolia said: “Our discussions with GMB are ongoing and we continue to seek constructive solutions that recognise the essential work our teams deliver everyday.”
A spokesperson for Idverde said: “We are disappointed by the action proposed by some of our colleagues at our Solihull site, as we remain open to constructive discussions and continue to look for a workable solution.
