A bin company embroiled in controversy over its handling of a waste contract could face further turmoil after it was confirmed its employees are being balloted about strike action.

The union GMB said today (July 29) it had begun the process of asking its members who are employed by Suez in Ashford and Swale whether or not to take industrial action.

The waste company took over the contract for the two borough councils and Maidstone council on March 25 after a 10-year contract with Biffa came to an end.

But it has been dogged by problems, with more than 36,000 reports of missed bin collections.

And it has since come to light that workers in the Ashford and Swale are earning less for the same work.

Loaders in Maidstone, for example, are on £13 per hour and drivers £17, while in Swale and Ashford, staff receive £12 and £15 respectively.

GMB announced it would ask the question last Monday (July 22) and has officially opened the ballot today. It will remain open until August 19.

The outcome could see the bin crisis continue if staff vote to walkout.

Frank Macklin, GMB regional organiser said: “GMB has been tackling low pay in the refuse industry for years but is finding it like painting the Forth Bridge – as soon as it appears sorted, we have to go back to where we began and start over.

“These companies continue to squeeze their employees dry to maximise the dividends they can pay to their shareholders.

“These workers carry out the same duties and should therefore receive the same pay across the contract, whether in Swale, Ashford or Maidstone.

“If workers in Maidstone earn a certain amount and have been offered a certain pay rise, our members in Ashford and Swale deserve the same.

"Let us be very clear too - workers in Ashford and Swale need their pay to come up to meet salaries in Maidstone and we will not accept any reduction in Maidstone workers' pay to fund pay rises elsewhere.”

Suez confirmed it was aware of the strike ballot but did not wish to comment further.

Its general manager Vincent Masseri previously said: “While there have been steady improvements to the new waste contract in Mid-Kent over recent weeks, we apologise that some residents are still experiencing missed collections.

“With the new service in Mid-Kent impacting almost 200,000 properties and resulting in more than 80,000-day changes for resident bin collections locally, we always expected there to be challenges as our crews get used to new routes, trucks, and technology.

“We thank residents and local councillors for bearing with us while we aim to maximise collection rates and are confident that our measures will maintain the positive trend towards a more efficient and reliable service.”

News of the strike vote comes after a heated Swale council meeting on Wednesday (July 24) when it was also heard there had been almost 500,000 visits from the public to the online bin day look-up tool.

Suez has been beset with problems since taking over the £152 million Mid-Kent Waste Partnership contract, with the company now having to pay “punishment” fines to the councils concerned for the lack of service following a three-month grace period.

Bosses have continually promised to “improve reliability and provide a more efficient service” for the 460,000 residents it serves.