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

Business Support Assistant

Essex County Council
Up to £25959.00 per annum
Business Support AssistantFixed Term, Full Time£25,959 Per AnnumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Clerical Officer Receptionist

Durham County Council
Grade 3 £26,016 - £26,847 Pro - rata
We have an exciting opportunity for a Clerical Officer/Receptionist to join our dedicated Business Services team. We currently have one part-time per Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Residential Workers - Long-Stay Children's Home

Durham County Council
Grade 7, £31,015 - £34,811 per annum
Residential Workers - Long-Stay Children's Home Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

School Crossing Patrol

Durham County Council
Grade 1 £4,106 (approx.) £12.85 per hour
Join our School Crossing Patrol Service! Are you punctual and reliable? Do you have good communication skills and a strong sense of community spirit? Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Rights of Way Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £31,015 - £34,811 per annum
An exciting and challenging opportunity has arisen within the Council’s Access and Rights of Way Team for the position of Rights of Way Officer.   WHA Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner