Christmas garbage collection strike avoided following agreement on wages.

Refuse, street maintenance, and groundskeeping employees in Waltham Forest will not go on strike over the Christmas period after agreeing to an improved pay package. The walkouts, initially planned from 10 December to 9 January, were set to affect services provided by FCC Environment on behalf of Waltham Forest Council.

The GMB union reported that staff voted to accept the new offer, which includes higher wages, ending months of stalled negotiations. Talks on pay, working conditions, and sick leave are set to resume in January.

FCC Environment confirmed the agreement, and the council acknowledged the hard work of its refuse collectors, often operating in difficult weather. GMB emphasized that the staff achieved a better settlement after rejecting previous low offers.

The deal raises the hourly rate for workers on the London Living Wage to 14.50, backdated to August, reflecting a 4.7% increase. Employees earning above this rate will receive a 3.6% rise, backdated to April.

Mary Goodson, regional organizer for GMB, stated: "Our members resisted low pay and secured an improved arrangement for themselves and their colleagues without resorting to industrial action. This is a positive start, and we anticipate further discussions with FCC next year."

Council deputy leader Clyde Loakes highlighted the dedication of collection staff and the importance of uninterrupted services during the busy holiday period.

FCC Environment added that the outcome followed careful negotiations and represented a satisfactory resolution. Waltham Forest will follow an adjusted bin collection schedule over the festive season, with no collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, or New Year's Day.

Author: Aiden Foster