Councillor Martynas Cekavicius, Havering’s Cabinet Member for Public Realm, said:
“It was announced by Unite on Friday 16 October 2026 that industrial action is scheduled to take place 26 to 30 October 2026, relating to staff that deliver waste and recycling collections in Havering.
“Whilst discussions between FCC and Unite remain ongoing, FCC have contingency plans in place to ensure to ensure waste and recycling collections remain uninterrupted.
“Council officers are meeting daily with FCC’s management team and will meet with FCC on Tuesday 20 October 2026 to discuss Unite's concerns raised regarding working during extreme heat conditions.
"FCC’s Head Office are involved in ongoing talks and were on site today (Monday 19 October 2026) to meet with Union representatives.
“Havering Council will continue to review its contractual provisions with FCC as the situation progresses, however the Council’s position remains unchanged.
"We also continue to urge FCC to reach a negotiated settlement with Unite and to fully resolve the issue.
"We will issue regular communications through the Council’s channels as the situation progresses.”