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

Senior/Principal Regeneration Officer

Fareham Borough Council
£45,465 - £55,379
Our town centre regeneration is moving from planning to delivery, and we're looking for someone who wants to help make regeneration happen. Fareham, Hampshire
Recuriter: Fareham Borough Council

Adults Social Worker - West Essex (Expression of Interest)

Essex County Council
£36124 - £51834 per annum + Flexible Working, Hybrid
Register your interest here to be notified of upcoming Social Worker opportunities within Essex County Council's Adult Social Care services in West E England, Essex, Harlow
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Team Manager - Care Leavers Team

Nottingham City Council
£53,051 - £56,293
As Team Manager for the Care Leavers Team, you will lead and support a dedicated team working with young people transitioning from care into adulthood Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Nottingham City Council

Technician

Essex County Council
£32086.00 - £37748.00 per annum
TechnicianPermanent, Full Time£32,086 up to £37,748 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Communications Officer

Essex County Council
£37226.7100 - £42110.5400 per annum
Maldon District Council is working in partnership with Essex Shared Services to support the role of Communications Officer, a full-time position offe England, Essex, Maldon
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner