UPDATE: Council Portrayal Of Bin Dispute "Misleading" And "Unfair" Say Worthing Strikers

Members of the GMB Union who are striking in Adur & Worthing over unfair pay and conditions for refuse workers, say the council's portrayal of the dispute has been misleading - and the council has responded.

In a series of tweets, the GMB has published videos of workers on the picket line disputing what the council has stated with regard to pay and conditions.

One worker said, "were not very happy. We've been underpaid for at least 20 years."

Another worker commented, "we've had nothing in 20 years. We've been left in the lurch."

In a statement on Monday (March 14) a council spokesperson reported that, "a pay deal offered by them is already superior to that in place in other local authorities in Sussex." They said:

"How can the GMB be taking strike action when a better deal is on the table for all our staff than that for which they settled elsewhere in the county? Whatever is happening, and it appears on the surface to have little to do with pay grades, we, and more importantly residents, appear to have been caught up in it."

However, according to workers on the picket line, the council have been misleading the public when it comes to what workers are actually receiving:

Workers on strike at the #Worthing and #Adur - refuse recycling, and cleansing depot, believe that the Council’s portrayal of their dispute over pay is misleading and unfair. @GMBSouthern #BinStrike pic.twitter.com/OLBhdYIkg2

— This Worthing (@ThisWorthing) March 15, 2022

Another refuse worker added "the proof is in the pudding":

"I've never known numbers like this on strike. It's unprecedented for this council and this authority. I think it's a clear demonstration of how unappreciated and how undervalued and how underpaid we've been for a very very vast period of time."

“The proof is in the pudding”.
Strong feelings of support for the #Binstrike by workers at @adurandworthing refuse recycling and cleansing department as they seek fair pay.
Some working out of the depot, are having to choose between heating or eating. @GMBSouthern #Worthing pic.twitter.com/tN3JvCfis4

— This Worthing (@ThisWorthing) March 15, 2022

In another tweet, a worker on the picket line accused a driver of using his vehicle as a weapon and driving into a pedestrian in a bid to leave the depot:

GMB not allowing this driver out after he used his vehicle as a weapon and drove into a pedestrian yesterday. His vehicle was being allowed to pass. Management condoning assault with a vehicle instead of suspension. #SuspendHim #NotOnOurWatch @adurandworthing @GMBSouthern pic.twitter.com/RmIQ8xcfnr

— lib (@libwhitfield) March 15, 2022

At 7.15 this morning (March 16) a GMB member photographed the picket line, saying that they would "be here until the council formally meet with us".

Good morning from @adurandworthing picket line! We’ll be here till the council formally meet with us. We’re happy to wait but are the residents? #WeKnowOurValue #TeamGMB #NeverBackDown @GMBSussexBranch @GMBSouthern pic.twitter.com/jaEGAUVYXC

— lib (@libwhitfield) March 16, 2022

In a statement yesterday, Adur & Worthing Councils said they were "still seeking ways" to bring staff into discussions in order to end the strike and have thanked members of the cleansing team who continue to work.

They said they wanted to "correct misinformation circulating from various sources, about the pay deal already in place. This includes the misrepresentation of the HGV lorry drivers 12.7 per cent rise as not permanent when in fact it is proposed to add to ongoing salary."

They added:

Officers are striving to find ways to reconcile that fact that UNISON is the recognised union across all Councils’ services and by law has to be consulted on pay and condition issues at the same time as respecting that many workers in the refuse service have sought alternative representation through the GMB union, which has called the strike.

It also emerged today that the first time the GMB contacted the Councils on December 21, last year was to demand a meeting with an immediate threat of industrial action if none was held. This occured three months after a wholesale review of pay and conditions had been commenced involving all staff and UNISON. The GMB has refused nine requests for talks with Councils.

A spokesperson for the Councils said:

"We were concerned from the very first communications that we received from the GMB that they were going to be difficult to deal with threats of strike before we had even understood who they were, how many they represented and even what they wanted. It ripped up the rulebook of how to conduct decent industrial relations and how to respect the fact that their sister union was already in negotiation.

"Nevertheless we treat all staff the same and we value and respect all of them for the contribution they make to supplying first class services to our community. We have absolutely no interest in prolonging this dispute. Utmost in our minds also remains our residents and the need to remove this anxiety by returning their refuse collection service as soon as possible. We can only do that if all parties help to find a way through this that works for all staff and is fair to our residents."

The spokesperson added that it was important to emphasise that all staff had been given a pay rise in the first year of more than 6% on top of a national backdated pay award of 1.75%. The Councils' HGV drivers have been given pay rises of more than 12.7%. All of these proposed rises are permanent additions to salary scales and not one-offs.

In total 65 members of staff have been moved up a pay grade 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.

For more information and the facts about the dispute please visit https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/bin-strike/