WREXHAM COUNCIL has issued an update on how and when bins will be collected througout the area as three more weeks of strikes are announced.

The council says it is 'prepared to discuss pay-related issues' with workers after it was announced that three more weeks of strikes will take place this month.

Initial industrial action was called by Unite the Union nationwide earlier this month, with disruption expected to some services for two weeks.

Now, Unite the Union has announced that its members - including those at Wrexham Council - will strike for a further three weeks from September 25 to October 15. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​​

Unite say that workers there are currently in the middle of their first round of industrial action which will end on September 17.

Unite members say they have 'overwhelmingly rejected' the local authority employers’ pay offer of just £1,925, a poorer offer than last year and a real terms pay cut.

They have also warned that bin collections could be 'majorly impacted' as the strikes go on.

Wrexham Council has now offered a response to concerns over waste management.

It says that, during the current period of industrial action, it 'cannot be certain about' its resources until the start of each day. 

Therefore, the council is having to make daily decisions about services and 'do the best with what' they have available. 

Talking about how bins will be collected over the coming weeks, the update adds: "We will continue to prioritise collecting your residual waste (i.e. your black or blue bin), and so please place your waste out for collection on your usual collection day.

"However if collections are not collected by 3.30pm then please return to your property for storage until your next scheduled collection date. Please do not report as missed collection, as we are unable to return for any missed collections.

"Unfortunately, we will not be in a position to collect your recycling this week, therefore we ask you to continue to collect this separately, to be presented at kerbside when we are back to normal operations.

"Clinical Waste will be collected this week, however if there is a delay please leave at normal collection point as collections will take place.

"All three Household Recycling Centres (HRC) are open as normal and not impacted by the strike. All general (non-recyclable) and a wide range of recycling including garden waste, food, cans, plastics and bulky waste can be accepted. Please remember to show proof of Wrexham address.

The Leader: Generic pictures of black bins.

"Unfortunately, as we continue to have very limited resources to run services, Garden Waste collections and Commercial waste will not be collected.

"Bulky waste collections have also been impacted, and cannot be booked during this strike period.

"It is likely for other services to be affected during the week, including the emptying of street litter bins. 

"These actions will help us maintain the core waste collection service during the strike action.

"We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience. Please share this information with your family, friends, and neighbours."

Responding to the strikes, a spokesperson for Wrexham council said: "We have been informed by Unite in writing that they will be taking part in further discontinuous strike action (except for school workplaces) commencing on 25 September and continuing each day up to 15 October 2023, when the action will conclude at 23:59 hours.

"We’ve made it clear that Wrexham Council is prepared to discuss pay-related issues with Unite as long as it follows the normal process for pay negotiations which are collectively with all local authorities co-ordinated by the national employers (including the Welsh Local Government Association) and involving all recognised trade unions.

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"We are committed fully to work with the unions around social partnership and would want to ensure any negotiations follow the strong principles and coordinated approaches that have worked well over a number of years.

"We have had meetings with Unite to verbally explain why we cannot negotiate on their demands as an individual council. The WLGA has also sent a letter to Unite confirming that local authorities are part of the national collective bargaining arrangements through the NJC and therefore cannot negotiate with Unite on these matters.

"The WLGA has offered Unite the opportunity to meet with its WLGA Workforce Spokesperson so that issues that gave rise to the pay dispute can be heard directly by those representing local government employers in Wales in the national negotiations, but has made it clear this will not be a negotiating meeting."