Waste management firm Veolia has made an improved pay offer of 10% to its almost 200 members of staff in Merseyside, putting an end to planned strike action.
As part of a two-year deal secured by trade union Unite, staff based at 22 household waste sites will receive a 10% pay rise backdated for the financial year 2022/23, and an 8.4% increase for 2023/24. The business’ lowest paid workers will also receive a one-off payment of £375.
Veolia employees planned to go on strike from Monday 2 January to Saturday 7 January, but postponed in order to be balloted on the new offer. If they had rejected the offer, strike action scheduled to last from Sunday 15 January until Saturday 21 January would have taken place.
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “Veolia Merseyside workers stood together in their union and secured a substantial pay rise. Unite is totally focused on defending and improving our members jobs, pay and conditions. As this pay deal, and the hundreds of others negotiated by the union across the country, shows, it is an approach that delivers results.”
John McColl, regional officer at Unite, added: “The pay deal secured at Veolia, is another example of why Merseyside workers should join Unite if they want better wages and working conditions.”
Veolia was contacted for comment prior to publication.