A COMPANY which collects bins in Barrow has criticised what it calls 'appalling' behaviour from representatives of GMB Union.

And it has accused the union of 'law breaking' behaviour - saying it will be referring incidents to the police.

The pay rise the workers have been offered would amount to a real-terms pay cut after factoring in increased cost of living, according to GMB.

FCC Environment, which runs the refuse collection service on behalf of Barrow Borough Council, says they have offered a 'fair' deal to end the strike.

And it has hit out at the Union, claiming disruptive behaviour went too far on Friday.

Claims made by the contractor include that striking workers padlocked the depot on more than one occasion; followed vehicles; shouted at crew and blocked the highways and prevented vehicles entering and leaving depots.

They also allege the activities of the Union prevented crews from accessing one street altogether and that bins were moved to block a lorry trying to access a narrow road.

However, GMB Regional Organiser Michael Hall claimed bin bosses were intentionally sending lorries to the same places as striking workers - knowing it would impede progress and shift the blame for a failure to empty bins from the company to the Union.

He stressed workers had a right to peacefully demonstrate on public highways and said that they had not antagonised the situation.

Read more: 'End of the tether' - Bin disruption could stop 'in a pen stroke', says union

A spokeswoman for the contractor said: "FCC Environment would like to put on record that it is appalled by the behaviour of the Union this week. 

"Union behaviours amount to intimidation and have resulted in our crews feeling unsafe. To this end, we have today written to the GMB asking them to abide by the law.

"FCC Environment is compiling a video to submit to the police in the coming days capturing the unacceptable behaviours demonstrated by the Union, some of which we believe to be law-breaking.

"FCC Environment confirmed once again that its crews are doing everything possible to collect waste and recycling from residents. We are proud of our team for carrying on despite the tactics the local union representatives are employing.

"And we urge them to reconsider our final and fair offer which still stands."

Read more: Police called and traffic chaos as bin strike heats up