THE second round of a Barrow bin strike will begin today.

GMB Union members who work for FCC Environment first went on strike last Wednesday and spent three days stationed outside of the Salthouse Road depot.

The strike comes after conflict over pay negotiations.

GMB organiser Michael Hall said: “These refuse collectors know what they’re worth and they’ll fight to get it.”

FCC Environment, who are contracted to collect refuse on behalf of Barrow Borough Council, claim they have offered a ‘fair deal’ to workers, however, GMB Union says the pay rise that has been offered to workers would amount to a real-terms pay cut after factoring in increased cost of living.

Residents in the area were advised to put their bins out as normal by FCC Environment as GMB Union warned that up to 33,000 Barrow homes could be affected by the industrial action.

As the remaining workers went about their jobs the strike heated up.

FCC Environment claimed disruptive behaviour from the union went too far on Friday.

The contractor claimed 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 alleged 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.

A spokesman for FCC Environment said: “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.”

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

The strike is set to continue until Friday unless a satisfactory offer is made to the workers.

Mr Hall said: “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.”