Worthing bin strike threat: Councils call for threat to be dropped in wake of salary increases

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HGV drivers in Worthing have been offered a permanent £2,700 increase to their pay, as the council calls on staff to 'reconsider plans' to strike.

Adur & Worthing Councils said that after a pay review, which began in October, every person in the 109 posts looked at will get a rise of at least 6 per cent on top of a national backdated pay award of 1.75 per cent.

Now, 65 members of staff have been moved up a grade and a further 40 who are required to drive HGVs regularly as part of their role will get a permanent annual £2,700 specialist skills supplement. Four more will get both the annual specialist skills supplement and be moved up a grade.

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A council’ spokesman said: “The result of the review is that our frontline teams are being given decent pay rises, when they were already on comparable pay to staff employed in similar roles at other councils. Our HGV drivers will get a pay rise of more than 12.7 per cent.

The GMB said that, 'just like we saw in Brighton (pictured) and Eastbourne', Adur and Worthing could see residents' rubbish go uncollected and the town centres and communal streets uncleaned.The GMB said that, 'just like we saw in Brighton (pictured) and Eastbourne', Adur and Worthing could see residents' rubbish go uncollected and the town centres and communal streets uncleaned.
The GMB said that, 'just like we saw in Brighton (pictured) and Eastbourne', Adur and Worthing could see residents' rubbish go uncollected and the town centres and communal streets uncleaned.

“We would urge those staff who have voted to take strike action to rethink. In the context of the current economic situation, with all public sector organisations facing considerable restraints on budgets, this review has managed to fund salary rises considerably above what many others in the community will be getting."

This comes after members of the GMB union announced its members would go on strike for two weeks, beginning next Monday (March 14).

The council said 44 people — from an overall depot of 155 — voted for strike action, meaning it is 'likely' that collection of bins will be 'severely disrupted'

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GMB previously said action would affect up to 82,000 local homes unless the councils ‘decide to engage’ with GMB and ‘resolve the pay matters at hand’.

A bin collection strike in Eastbourne ended in January, as staff accept a pay rise.A bin collection strike in Eastbourne ended in January, as staff accept a pay rise.
A bin collection strike in Eastbourne ended in January, as staff accept a pay rise.

The council added that its pay review of the refuse, recycling and cleansing department was 'significantly ahead' of the GMB's first contact in December last year.

"UNISON is the recognised union at the councils, not the GMB, and has been involved in the review process," the council spokesman said.

"Although the councils have approached the GMB for details of their demands, the union has refused to respond, leaving the authorities unclear of the reasons for strike action."

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This latest increase in pay comes after the councils announced, on February 25, that 65 staff would see their pay moved up a grade with 40 HGV trained staff receiving a £2,000 market supplement.

UNISON South East regional organiser Sarah McGreal said the result has been achieved after 'months of intense negotiations' with the councils.

She added: "Waste and recycling employees have done an incredible job keeping services running throughout the pandemic and this is the least these essential workers deserve.

“Many people will be feeling anxious about their finances in the coming months as living costs are spiralling out of control. The rise secured by UNISON should offer them some relief in these challenging times.

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