Refuse workers in Solihull are being balloted about potential strike action over a pay dispute involving Amey Services Limited.
Workers of the private firm, are taking part in the vote which will close on March 4.
The vote comes after representatives of GMB Union submitted an interim pay claim at the end of 2021 as a result of the increases to the cost of living.
GMB Union has been in talks with Amey which have not been successfully resolved.
The union have balloted for industrial action as a result of further talks not progressing.
If the strike action goes ahead, 86,000 houses within Solihull Metropolitan Council could go without refuse collections, including Bickenhill waste tip and recycling centre.
GMB Union Official for the West Midlands, Stuart Richards, said: “In Solihull, the refuse service has been outsourced for over 20 years.
“Over that time, we’ve seen multiple contracts brought in and pay and conditions driven down.
“The fact is these workers have not seen a decent pay rise in years.
“As the cost of living spirals, they’re no longer willing to subsidise public services out of their own pockets.”
A new contract is due to start in April 2022 between Veolia ED (UK) Limited and its partner Idverde, taking over from Amey in Solihull Council.
The Solihull vote comes after refuse workers in Coventry organised a full two month walk-out last week over a pay row.
Despite being provided as an in-house refuse service in Coventry, strikers there say that the Labour Council is using a “rogue, alternative bin collection service” on higher rates of pay to undermine the strike action.
Dave Warwick, from the GMB Union, said: “Refuse collectors in Solihull do not want to go on strike, but Amey has backed them into a corner by refusing the negotiate.”
