Bin Strike Not Yet Off The Cards For Adur & Worthing

Negotiations between a union representing refuse workers and the Adur & Worthing Councils have led to a pay rise but a strike is not off the cards yet.

The councils have been carrying out a review of the refuse collection service since October and have been in negotiation with UNISON over better pay and conditions for the refuse, recycling, and cleansing team.

On Friday (February 25) the councils announced 65 staff would see their pay moved up a grade, with 40 HGV-trained staff receiving a £2,000 market supplement.

Four staff will receive the supplement and see their salary moved up a grade.

The pay increases come into effect from Wednesday (March 2), with further increases offered in September and April resulting in a pay rise of six per cent.

A shortage of HGV drivers has proved challenging for the councils which have been offering a £2,000 supplement to help retain and recruit them.

Staff are also being offered the opportunity to gain a HGV driving qualification.

UNISON said talks will continue over collection round reviews, working hours, driver training, and the salaries of other staff within the service.

GMB still plans to strike

But the GMB union says its members still plan to strike and the councils have acknowledged that ‘in theory, a small number of the total workforce could cause a bin strike’.

Adur & Worthing Councils said that 44 of the 151 employees that make up its waste, recycling, and cleansing service voted to strike.

This could cause disruption to bin collections and other services from March 14 if an agreement cannot be reached or the council’s contingency plans do not work.

GMB organiser Gary Palmer said the UNISON offer did not change its members’ plan to strike.

“The council has made an offer to UNISON,” he said, “This offer does not change GMB’s position – which is that only direct negotiation can prevent the strikes due to start on March 14.

“We will meet members on March 8 to go through plans for the initial two weeks of industrial action.

“We remain ready to commence formal discussions with the council about our members’ determination to be paid properly for the work they do.”

A council spokesperson said a review of working conditions remained the priority but contingency plans would be shared with residents and businesses ‘in the coming days’ if a strike can’t be avoided.

In an information article on its website, the council said:

“We will continue to consult with all members of staff and interested parties, such as the GMB, and will negotiate with the recognised union, UNISON.

“We hope that the review which was begun in October – nearly three months before we were contacted by the GMB – will convince staff that we are serious about working with them to create a better service for both residents and staff.”

Brighton bin strike all over again?

Concerns that a strike could lead to a repeat of the situation in Brighton & Hove were raised during a joint overview and scrutiny committee in January.

Councillor Jeremy Gardner (Lab, St Mary’s ward) said: “It’s been reported that morale is at rock bottom. ”

Refuse workers in Brighton & Hove went on strike for two weeks in October over pay and changes to duties, which caused rubbish to pile up in the streets.

Lengthy negotiations between the GMB union and Brighton and Hove City Council resulted in a pay rise for workers and narrowly avoided a month-long strike.