Brighton’s refuse and recycling drivers are to go on strike in a long-running dispute over pay.
Trade union GMB has announced that drivers of refuse vehicles in Brighton and Hove City Council will undertake strike action over pay and grading on 11 February.
Cityclean, the council’s refuse service, said the council used a “well-established and consistent process to measure the pay” for driver charge-hands. But GMB members refute council claims that an independent job evaluation was carried out on their role.
Mark Turner, GMB branch secretary, said: “Once again, Brighton council officers’ lack of both commitment and ability to find a resolution has meant GMB members are left with no alternative other than to take further direct action.
“GMB members will lose money and the people of this city potentially will see rubbish remaining uncollected, something that we and they deeply regret.”
Richard Bradley, head of Cityclean and parks for the council, said he was disappointed with the strike news. He urged the GMB to follow a right of appeal process regarding job pay and evaluation instead of disrupting collections.
He said Cityclean was facing “big challenges” like all councils because of reductions in central funding. The council is having to make £102m in savings by 2020.
“In Cityclean, the budget proposals are to make £800,000 in savings through a service redesign. These plans provide significant opportunities to maximise commercial trading opportunities that will help protect jobs from the impact of budget reductions,” he said. “This action will simply serve to undermine these efforts.”
Brighton refuse workers also took strike action in September 2014 and June 2013 over pay cuts and allowances.
You might also like...
Refuse workers start new roles after strikes
Refuse workers in Birmingham have started on new shift patterns as part of a deal with unions to end a lengthy industrial dispute between the council and employees.
Industrial action hits Cheshire commercial waste collections
Christmas strike action is planned by Veolia depot workers in Cheshire and there are fears non-collection of waste will quickly create environmental health concerns.
NHS terminates all HES clinical waste contracts
Clinical waste disposal firm Healthcare Environmental Services said all of its NHS contracts have been terminated following a l ong-running dispute over a build-up of waste .
Industry to revisit people in bins campaign
A new industry campaign to prevent rough sleepers being killed or injured if they sleep in waste bins is set to launch in the new year, after a previous Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and Biffa campaign stalled.
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment
Please remember that the submission of any material is governed by our Terms and Conditions and by submitting material you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions. Links may be included in your comments but HTML is not permitted.