The Wiltshire bins strike threatening 250,000 homes in the county has taken a grim new turn – after the union representing strikers has alleged that picketing workers have been clipped by trucks driven by strike-breakers.
Gary Palmer, regional organiser for the GMB union, told this newspaper that bin workers picketing Hills Municipal Collections bases at Trowbridge and Salisbury yesterday were hit and clipped by bin collection vehicles leaving the depots on the first week of the strike.
Mr Palmer said the strikers at both depots are now “very, very angry”.
He said the police were informed after the alleged incidents and that the workers concerned were sent for medical checks.
The strike, which is set to last for two weeks, was called because workers wanted a seven per cent pay rise and the company offered two per cent. Last week Hills increased its offer, to a figure that the GMB union indicated was less than seven per cent, but this was rejected by the union’s members, who are also striking at Hills’ Calne depot.
Describing yesterday’s alleged incidents, Mr Palmer said: “Trucks leaving the depots were driven at picketers. At Salisbury two picketers were hit. They had to go to A&E this morning to get X-rays and body scans done.”
He added: “At Trowbridge another truck clipped two people as it came around a corner out of the depot. It sped up and glanced two of the guys, but they were OK, there was no need for an ambulance.”
Mr Palmer said the police were called after the alleged incidents and the union has made a complaint to the Wiltshire force. Officers are expected to be in attendance at the picket lines today.
Mr Palmer added: “It’s got scary. A 17-ton truck is some weapon to be driving at a picket line and all that this has done has been to turn the situation into a very angry one. The guys on the picket lines are very, very angry now.”
As the strike continues residents are advised that they should continue to place their bins out for collection as normal, and check Wiltshire Council’s social media feeds or visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk for up-to-date information on waste collection services in their area.
Hills is being approached for a response to the union’s claims and we await a response from Wiltshire Police.
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