Adur and Worthing Councils have hit out at the GMB Union, who represent refuse workers in Sussex, asking why the strike has gone ahead despite a 'generous' pay deal.
The councils say they can prove that a pay deal offered by them is already superior to that in place in other local authorities in Sussex.
They have also reported that on this second day of the strike, the GMB union has refused for the ninth time to meet Councils to discuss its demands. The authorities are still in the dark about what it wants for its members.
In further developments the councils have
- Produced this graph (see below) which shows the existing offers are higher than elsewhere
- Produced evidence that the GMB took strike action in another Council area but settled for a deal that pays less than the one already on offer at Adur and Worthing
- Reached out again to the GMB for talks but have been rejected.
The strike has resulted in all bin collection services being halted except for clinical waste and a partial cleansing service.
In total 44 members of staff at the refuse, recycling and cleansing service voted for strike action. The total number of staff at the depots is 151.
A spokesman for Adur & Worthing Councils said:
"Given the number of facts that are emerging it will be increasingly difficult for our residents to understand why this action is taking place, causing unnecessary stress and environmental issues within our community.
"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 we have to take a position on behalf of all our staff across all services. This kind of aggressive approach hardly bodes well for future dealings with the GMB and the efficiency and effectiveness of the waste service.
"But there is still time for a rethink. We continue to urge staff to return to work so that we can have constructive talks aimed at finding a solution."
Information supplied by Adur & Worthing Councils.
In response, The GMB Union has tweeted to say that they have asked the councils to sit down and negotiate with them, but haven't been contacted:
(Branch Secretary often tweeting using voice recognition software as visually impaired.)
Updates to follow.
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