Members of Unite, including refuse collection workers, housing workers and care staff at New Forest District Council, considering strike action in row over pay

New Forest bin collections could be hit by strike action this autumn.

Refuse collectors are among frontline staff at New Forest District Council who are considering industrial action in a row over pay.

Nationally, members of the union Unite, who are employed by local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, have overwhelmingly rejected local government employers’ pay offer for 2024/5.

Its members, including those at the district council, have now started balloting on full industrial action.

A spokesperson for Unite said: “Members who cover many frontline roles – including refuse collection workers, housing workers and care staff – returned an 85% rejection of the pay offer which is worth a £1,290 flat rate, plus 2.5% on allowances. This offer fails to tackle poverty pay or reverse the years of real-terms pay cuts experienced by local government workers.”

Balloting of members has started, says Unite, and if workers vote for industrial action, strikes could begin this autumn.

Unite’s national officer, Clare Keogh, said: “Council leaders need to wake up and be aware they are facing an autumn of strikes unless local government employers return to the negotiating table and propose a vastly improved pay offer.

“Our members are heavily invested in the communities where they live and work. But more than a decade of real-terms pay cuts mean that many are being forced to vote with their feet and seek employment elsewhere, as council pay has become so low that they can’t pay their bills.”

The organisation’s national officer for local government craftworkers, Jason Poulter, added: “The employers’ lack of engagement with the unions has, frankly, been disdainful. Our members are rightly outraged by this contemptuous offer.

“This dispute will not be resolved until employers engage in proper consultation with unions.”

A spokesperson for the district council would not say how many staff might be involved in strike action.

They said: “The national pay negotiations are ongoing and we are monitoring the situation.

“We will take action to mitigate the impact on our residents should we be in a position where industrial action takes place.”