There will be major disruption to bin collections in the London Borough of Havering later this month as over 40 refuse collectors strike over poor conditions.

The Unite members work as loaders and drivers at FCC Waste Management, which provides outsourced services for the local council.

They have voted to take industrial action after raising a series of concerns for years with management that have not been addressed, including excessive workloads, fatigue and hot weather working, vehicle safety and welfare.

Workers have to routinely work overtime for rounds to be completed, causing fatigue, while in the recent summer heatwaves work wasn’t cut short when the heat soared, while other boroughs routinely reduced working days for refuse and other manual workers. This led to some loaders suffering heatstroke.

The team is also short-staffed. Havering geographically is a far bigger borough than most London boroughs, but although more housing has been built in the area the amount of rounds and workers has not increased to meet demand.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Bin workers do a difficult and dirty job which is essential for the local community in Havering.

"They deserve to be treated with respect and FCC can't keep kicking these serious concerns from its workforce down the road. These must be addressed now and our members there have our full backing during this dispute."

Members at FCC have been raising problems with management since the contract was taken over in 2023 with no resolution. There are also issues with agency workers being told they would be offered permanent contracts by FCC which have not materialised.

Meanwhile, there are also issues with pay. For example, a new starter loader is paid just £12.88 an hour the equivalent role in neighbouring Redbridge is £15.72. New drivers in Havering are paid £17.24 compared to £19.89 in Redbridge. Loaders in Havering are set to be paid 17 per cent less than the new London real living wage of £15.45.

Strikes will take place from 26 to 30 October. During this time, Havering residents will face disruption to their waste collections.

Unite believes the dispute also raises wider questions about the value of outsourcing of publicly funded services, with residents paying for a worsening service while workers responsible for delivering it say they are being pushed to breaking point.

Unite regional officer Nick West said: "Our members don't want residents to face disruption to bin collections, but it is the consequence of FCC failing to resolve these problems.

“Residents are already paying for this service through their council tax. They deserve a service that works and workers deserve decent pay and conditions in which to deliver it. FCC can resolve this dispute, but it relies on it taking these problems seriously and working with the union to find a meaningful solution."

ENDS

Notes to editors

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite press officer Natasha Wynarczyk on 07970081524

natasha.wynarczyk@unitetheunion.org