Refuse collectors and street cleaners in Milton Keynes finally win fight over pay

The crews have had to fight through their union to negotiate a pay increase, it has been revealed today.

Milton Keynes Council pays Serco millions of pounds a year to collect rubbish and recycling and keep city streets clean.

But, despite the fact that the council is an accredited Living Wage employer, Serco was not meeting the criteria with its workers.

The crews were represented by CMB union to negotiate an increase and the council "championed" their fight.

Cabinet Member for Public Realm, Councillor Emily Darlington, said: “As a Labour-led Council we’re proud to be a Living Wage employer and championing the fight for the real Living Wage.”

She added: “Serco are the Council’s largest single contractor so it was really important to bring their contract in line with the commitment MK Council has made to being a Living Wage employer."

The move signals the last of the teams employed and contracted by Milton Keynes Council to be paid a minimum of the real Living Wage, which is calculated by the Living Wage Foundation based on the real cost of living, not just the Government minimum wage.

Richard Owen, Regional Organiser for GMB said: “It’s a testament to Labour-led MK Council’s commitment to being a Living Wage employer that we’ve been able to work on negotiating this uplift in pay from Serco well ahead of contract renewal in 2023. These employees are now guaranteed to receive the real Living Wage into the future so this will make a real difference to this team and their families.”