Mark Whitehead 18 March 2019

Birmingham council and union ‘welcome’ end to refuse dispute

Refuse collectors who took part in a series of strikes in Birmingham are to be given £3,500 each in a settlement which both sides say has ended the long-running dispute.

Unite the Union claimed its members had been discriminated against when it was discovered that workers in another union who did not take part in a strike last year had been given payments.

The council has now also agreed it will stop using crews that do not meet the union's demand for full staffing and will hold a recruitment day so that agency staff will be able to apply for full-time positions.

It will also commission a review of the 'future options for delivery of the waste service'.

Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett welcomed the 'excellent' settlement: 'Unite has been consistent from the beginning of the dispute that our members were simply seeking parity, with the payments that workers who did not take part in the 2017 dispute, subsequently received.

'Once that principle was understood the dispute could be resolved.'

Council leader Ian Ward said: 'Everyone involved has always had the same aim – to deliver the best possible service for citizens, as clean streets have consistently been named as the number one priority for the people of Birmingham.

'We all know the service needs to be better than it has been. This settlement will enable us to lay the foundations for improvement.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Assistant Road Safety Officer (Professional and Technical Officer Level 2)

Bristol City Council
£29,064 - £31,022
Are you passionate about creating safer, healthier, and more sustainable streets? Join our Road Safety Team within the City Transport Service 100 Temple Street Redcliffe Bristol BS1 6AN
Recuriter: Bristol City Council

Road Safety Officer (Professional and Technical Officer Level 2)

Bristol City Council
£35,412 - £39,152
Are you passionate about creating safer, healthier, and more sustainable streets? Join our Road Safety Team within the City Transport Service 100 Temple Street Redcliffe Bristol BS1 6AN
Recuriter: Bristol City Council

Private Sector Housing Officer

North Yorkshire Council
£31,537 to £34,434 pro rata, per annum
Do you have experience in housing solutions or a related service? Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Records Assistant

Wakefield Council
£24,796.00 - £25,185.00, Grade 3, 37 hours, Temporary
We are seeking to appoint committed and motivated Records Assistants Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Waste Recycling Operative

Wakefield Council
£26,403.00 - £28,142.00, Grade 5, 37 hours, Permanent
An opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a Waste Recycling Operative Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner