DURING the current industrial action, it is more important than ever that your bin is emptied.

Severe disruption has been caused by refuse workers going on strike earlier this month, with more strikes planned going forwards.

The first round of industrial action concluded on Monday, causing considerable disruption to residents and businesses, with bins not being emptied during this period.

Union Unite have given notice to Warrington Borough Council that members intend to strike again from Tuesday, October 24, until Monday, November 6.

Between Tuesday and today, Friday, workers have been emptying black bins across the town before the next period of strike action starts.

But a number of residents have reported that their bins have been missed and not emptied.

On this, a council spokesman said: “We accept that there may be a very small number of black bins that we miss.

“We are very sorry if this happens to your property this week, but given the strike action from Tuesday, October 24, we will be unable to collect missed bins until after the strike period.”

Green and blue bin collections have been suspended in order to allow for black bins to be emptied this week.

Anyone whose bin has been missed is advised to take rubbish to any of the tips, or community recycling centres, in Warrington, which will have extended opening hours until November 6.

Woolston tip is open from the extended hours of 8am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday, as is Gatewarth tip in Sankey Bridges.

Stockton Heath tip does not have extended hours, but it is still open between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Sunday.

On the strikes, the council said: “As we have said from the start, this dispute is linked to national pay negotiations. It is not about local conditions in Warrington.

“Unite is choosing to take strike action based on a national pay claim that has not been agreed by the national negotiating body for local government.

“Our other two recognised trade unions for this group of staff – Unison and GMB – are not taking strike action.

“It is clearly not appropriate for us to try and negotiate locally just with Unite in response to the pay claim that it made collectively with other trade unions on a national basis.

“The council does not agree with the action Unite is taking. We do not believe it acts in the interest of our residents, businesses and other council employees.”