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 Highways Inspection Officer

The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
£39,526 - £43,613 per annum.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Highways Inspection Officer to join us! Maidenhead, Berkshire
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

Co-ordination Support Officer

Wakefield Council
Grade 5 SCP 8 £26,824 - SCP 11 £28,142
Do you have excellent business administration skills with an interest in working in Adults Social Care? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Engineering Team Manager (Transportation)

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Special A Grade, SCP 42-45, £53,460 - £56,732 per annum
Lead the way. Shape Calderdale’s transport future. Calderdale, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Social Worker Care Co-ordinator

Durham County Council
£35,412 - £39,152 (pre-progression) / £40,777 - £45,091 (post-progression) pro rata pa
We are seeking a dynamic and motivated Social Worker who places young people at the centre of their practice. This is an exciting opportunity to make Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Accommodation Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £30,024 - £33,699
Are you passionate about preventing homelessness and making a real difference in people’s lives? As an Accommodation Officer in our Independent Livin Seaham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner