SOLICITORS for Warrington Borough Council have written to trade union Unite over the current bin strikes.

It comes as the town is set to be hit by a fourth round of bin strikes, with industrial action by refuse workers now being extended into the festive season.

Unite has announced that the latest strikes will run from Tuesday, November 21, through to Monday, December 4.

Last Wednesday, November 8, marked the beginning of a third wave of strikes the first of which began on October 3.

The latest wave will see industrial action run through until November 20.

Unite has blamed Warrington Borough Council's 'dithering' for a fourth phase of strike action, accusing council leaders of dither and delay.

But now, the council has hit back and says its solicitors have asked Unite to cancel strikes immediately.

A council spokesman said: “We have been taking legal advice around the previous and current bin strikes, on the basis that Unite’s dispute has been because of the national pay award, which was settled on November 1.

“We have always said that further strike action has been an unnecessary and disproportionate measure given the resolution of the 2023/24 pay award negotiations.

“We have now written to Unite, through our solicitors, to ask for immediate confirmation that its continuing strike action will be cancelled.

“We have set out the basis of why this should be so.

“As always, our established and formal channels for all of our recognised trade unions remain open for any local issues to be raised and discussed.”

Warrington Guardian:

Unite previously said: "The 70 plus workers say the national pay offer of a flat rate increase of £1,925 is not good enough.

"The offer is below the rate of inflation and amounts to a real-terms pay cut. But a complete lack of urgency shown by the council towards resolving this dispute is needlessly delaying a resolution."

Unite regional officer Samantha Marshall added: "Warrington Borough Council is failing the workers and failing its residents.

"These delays are completely unnecessary, and the reason why strike action could extend into the Christmas period.

"In the last 10 years, local authority workers have lost a quarter of their real-terms incomes because of austerity, pay freezes and the rising cost of living.

"It is no wonder refuse workers are joining Unite our membership has doubled at the Warrington depot.

"The council needs to find a sense of urgency and work with Unite to resolve this dispute."