By George Mills. Cover image: Unite members on strike in Wrexham, via Unite.
A leading Unite union activist in Wrexham has opened up about the perilous financial situation faced by striking refuse and other council workers.
“We have members that are single parents and are absolutely dreading winter,” Simon Ellis of the Wrexham branch of Unite union said.
“They’re struggling to pay their bills as it is, just to keep their heads above water. If energy prices are the same as they were last winter, they won’t be able to afford food to eat.”
Refuse and other council workers in the union have been on strike for the past two weeks over pay. Workers in Wrexham and Cardiff started industrial action on September 4th, with Unite members in Gwynedd joining them from the 11th.
Workers in Cynon Valley have also voted in favour of industrial action, with dates for the action still to be confirmed. The strike follows the rejection of a flat rate pay rise of £1925 for 2023 /24, a lower percentage increase than the previous year.
The offer was resoundingly rejected by workers given ongoing inflation and huge cost of living pressures.
Speaking to voice.wales, Simon Ellis of the Wrexham branch of Unite union revealed the chronic low pay faced by refuse workers.
“The majority of our members on strike in Wrexham refuse department are on £21,575 a year, only just over minimum wage,” he said.
“These workers are out in the freezing middle of the winter, and in the baking heat of the summer, it’s not an easy job.”
“Some elderly and disabled people in the community have an assisted collection, so sometimes the workers are the only people they’ll speak to for a week.”
Unite has stated that this is the first round of industrial action over the dispute, with further, larger, and longer strikes due to take place throughout the Autumn if demands are not met, which will mostly affect refuse collection and recycling centres.
Ellis also claimed that Wrexham council had refused to engage with the union.
“Wrexham Council have behaved terribly on three separate occasions since notifying them of strike action,” Ellis told voice.wales.
“We have asked the council how we can work together to increase wages and avoid further escalation..the chief executive of Wrexham Council, who has flatly refused to speak to us.”
Speaking on BBC Radio Wales last week, a spokesperson for Wrexham Council claimed that the matter was out of their hands as the Welsh Government have stated that there is no more money for local authorities.
But Ellis says that the majority of some jobs within the local authority are now done by agency workers, which is seeing council funds going to private employment firms.
“All public services have been underfunded which is a disgrace,” he said. “But some council funding is spent in the wrong ways. Some council jobs are now 75% staffed by agency workers, some have left the job and gone to be reemployed as agency workers in the same role as the pay is better. It’s a total false economy.”
The strikes have not been without some backlash, however, as Ellis revealed.
“We’ve had people say to us, ‘if you don’t like it, find a new job.’ But if they don’t do it, then who will?”
Despite this, Unite and its members employed by Wrexham Council are still determined to strike, with around 400 members eligible to take action across the county.
Tensions have risen after what Unite have described as a “dismissive and patronising” letter from local authorities, stating their refusal to come to the negotiating table, and that the offer is “full and final”.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Welsh council workers are on the frontline providing vital services to communities across Wales. It is simply unacceptable that workers have been forced onto the breadline due to years of real terms pay cuts.”
“Unite never takes a backward step in supporting its members and is dedicated to enhancing their jobs, pay and conditions. Unite will be providing its local authority members with its complete support.”
A recent survey by Unite showed how deeply the cost-of-living crisis and stagnate wages have affected their members. Of the 1400 surveyed, 48% said they have struggled to afford essential utility bills for their homes, 30% have struggled to afford food and clothing, with 23% skipping meals to save money. 17% of those surveyed are struggling to make rental and mortgage payments, putting their homes at risk, with 6% of the workers stating they have had to rely on foodbanks to live.
“The best thing local people can do to help is to reach out to their local councillors and pressure them to speak to Ian Bancroft, the chief executive of Wrexham council, to meet our demands so we can bring this dispute to a close”, said Simon Ellis of Unite Wrexham
Workers have been picketing outside Wrexham Council on Llwyn Isaf, as well as on Ruthin Road. Unite says members of the public are welcome to attend to show their support.
