A BIN strike which could affect more than 33,000 Barrow households will begin today.

More than three quarters of the workforce who are members of GMB Union will down their tools after refuse collectors working for FCC Environment voted unanimously to walk out.

The strikes will take place from today until Friday and then from March 16-18.

But FCC bosses insisted: "We will be able to collect residents residual waste bins as usual."

GMB organiser Michael Hall said: “Barrow’s refuse collectors are at the end of their tether. Bosses are trying to fob them off with a real terms pay cut while the country is in the grip of the worst cost of living crisis in a generation.

“Now tens of thousands of Barrow homes won’t have their rubbish collected.

“These refuse collectors know what they’re worth and they’ll fight to get it. Management could stop any disruption for the people of Barrow in a pen stroke – just offer our members an actual pay rise so they can make ends meet.”

Bosses at FCC Environment said they had been working hard to prepare for the strike.

A spokesman for FCC Environment said: “As it stands, with the assistance of the remaining significant majority of Barrow FCC employees who will not be taking part in any strike action, we will be able to collect residents residual waste bins as usual and if more staff attend work then we will be able to offer recycling collections in addition. We are asking residents to put their bins out as normal on the normal day and we will clear them as soon as we can.

“It is important to note that FCC values the hard work of all of the team in Barrow, both throughout the pandemic and for many years before, collecting and sorting waste and recycling in the Borough. As such we offer both competitive rates of pay and a wide ranging benefits package including regular hours, enhanced sick pay, paid holiday, onward career progression, exceptional training support and much more to our employees. As a business we recognise the pressures many people are facing at the present time and we are doing everything we can to meet the expectations of our staff.

“It should be noted that these negotiations started in April 2021 and have regrettably been progressed by the GMB at an unacceptably slow pace throughout a period when inflation was low and the majority of the UK remained furloughed.

“It should also be noted that FCC Environment’s current offer matches a counter recommendation made by the GMB and is also higher than those already accepted by unions elsewhere in the UK.

“We will endeavour to minimise disruption for residents to their waste and recycling collections during this period.”