Of the 136 drivers in the council’s overall fleet, which includes refuse vehicles, 30 came into work for the morning shift today, a spokesman for the council confirmed. However, this does not take account of drivers who may come in for the afternoon shift today.
The council said it was “saddened and disappointed” by the decision to take strike action but apologised “for the inconvenience this may cause”, adding that its normal in-house collection service is expected to resume on Monday March 23.
The council said it has put in place contingency measures to “ensure disruption to the service is kept to a minimum”.
Earlier this month (March 3), GMB members employed as waste collection vehicle drivers by Barking and Dagenham Council Environmental Services voted for a three-day strike this week (March 18-20) over what the union has described as a £1,000 a year pay cut.
The ballot produced a 90% turnout and further walk outs are planned on April 7 and 8.
Workers are currently paid overtime for 30-minute safety checks on refuse vehicles prior to each shift, but the council is seeking to reduce this to 15 minutes’ pay to make budget savings.
Deputy leader of the council, Dominic Twomey, said: “In a climate where we have to make £54m cuts over the next three years, it would be irresponsible of us not to look at our overtime bill. It wouldn’t be fair on the residents of Barking and Dagenham or on the rest of our workforce who have shouldered cuts.
“This strike also jeopardises our proposal to use some of the savings to give passenger transport drivers the same 15 minute overtime payment. Morally, this would be the fair thing to do.”
A spokesman for the council told letsrecycle.com that “conversations are still ongoing” with GMB, but added that staff members belonging to the Unite, Unison and T&G unions were not taking part in the walk out.
The spokesman added that the council had already made similar changes to pay for its library services, care services and leisure services staff and emphasised that “we still pay more than most London boroughs”.
The council spokesman said: “Other staff members have made this sacrifice. 30 minutes is over and above their normal salary and we benchmark with other London boroughs.”
GMB
GMB claims that the changes to enhanced payments for refuse lorry drivers will “compromise health and safety” and are being made while the council is also increasing the wage bill with the creation of several “new high level posts”
The union said: “The council is forcing the bin lorry drivers to defend their existing pay and working conditions against an unproven attack to the point when they have to consider strike action to keep what they already have.”
GMB highlighted a recent online survey conducted by local newspaper the Barking & Dagenham Post found 75% in support of the strike action.
Keith Williams, GMB senior organiser, accused the council of using guard dogs and security at the picket lines today.
He said: “It beggars belief that a council that is attacking its own frontline workers with £1000 a year wage cuts would spend money in an attempt to intimidate those same workers who are lawfully resisting a cut to their wages.
“GMB members have received massive support from local residents who understand perfectly that a wage cut of any size, let alone £1000 a year, is a cut too far for families that have already suffered a drop in earnings since the start of the recession in 2008. In light of this it is inconceivable how the council can find money for new spending on completely unnecessary measures against the same under threat workers who are simply exercising their democratic and lawful right to strike.”
“The council should now listen to the public and do the right thing and reverse their arbitrary decision to cut the wages of GMB members by £1,000.”
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