This is one of two pay-related actions which could hit household collections, with GMB also calling a ballot for strike action over Kier’s handling of its May Gurney refuse contract in North Somerset.
Brighton CityClean charge hand drivers reinstated a ‘work to rule’ on January 19 – an action short of a strike – which means the workers will only carry out the minimum requirements of their contract.
The decision comes as part of an ongoing dispute over an increase in pay for 38 refuse and recycling drivers employed by the council, who currently earn the same amount as six street-cleansing staff on the same grade.
Following a previous round of strikes in October 2014, the council promised to evaluate the charge hand driver job description. In December, the authority notified the GMB that they pay grade of the post including additional duties would remain at ‘scale 4’.
The council said the job evaluation had not been accepted, but that the process ensured a ‘fair and robust’ ranking of all posts. It confirmed that the driver post was consistent with other posts at the scale 4 which have supervisory responsibility.
Commenting on the industrial action, Richard Bradley, head of City Clean & Parks at the council, said that the union had a right of appeal against the job evaluation – which it had not chosen to pursue.
‘Disappointed’
Mr Bradley said: “We are extremely disappointed that the GMB has notified us of the driver charge hands intention to “work to rule”.
“It is a decision that will lead to further disruption to residents at a time when we would want to be working together to put the service in the best place possible to face future challenges. The union has a right of appeal against the job evaluation which they have not yet pursued.”
But speaking to letsrecycle.com, GMB general secretary Mark Turner said it was “disingenuous” of the council to claim it was the union’s place to appeal.
He said: “It’s not the GMB’s pay, and it’s not our place to appeal. It’s our members’ right to appeal this process with their contractors.”
He added: “Strike action was discussed but the drivers decided to reinstate work to rule to demonstrate to their employer in a way that would inconvenience residents as little as possible.”
North Somerset
Meanwhile, in North Somerset, GMB has balloted strike action over an “unresolved pay dispute” which dates back to April 2014.
A total of 70 GMB members are employed by Kier May Gurney on its refuse and recycling contract for the South West council, which is due to run until 2017.
GMB claims that the outcome of a pay review put to its members last year was rejected “by a 90% majority”. When this rejection was conveyed to Kier, GMB reports that “no improvements” would be made on this offer.
However, Kier argues that it has been in ‘active discussions’ with its employees and GMB since April 2014 and had made an increased and amended offer ranging from 1.3% to 1.8% – in line with the union’s guidance.
A spokesperson for Kier said: “The range was put in place to address another issue raised by our employees; the difference in pay rates between roles, and set out to achieve the fairness and consistency that they requested.
“It is disappointing that the GMB are recommending strike action when we believe we have listened to our employees, have been keen to engage to reach a solution, and have made a fair and workable offer.”
A ballot was put to members earlier this month and is due to close on Wednesday (January 28).
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