And, the council confirmed as a result of the settlement, the proposed strike action by members of GMB, employed as drivers and loaders for the authority, has been called off.
Earlier this week GMB said 97.7% of its members employed in the council’s waste and recycling service, voted for strike action, after the council was accused of having ‘wilfully breached’ an ACAS binding arbitration agreement.
The union accused the council of varying staff contracts of employment despite ‘months of talks to find middle ground’. GMB members had agreed to a two-year pay and progression freeze with ACAS, but this agreement was breached by the council, GMB had claimed.
A spokesperson from GMB said members voted ‘overwhelmingly’ for strike action in an official ballot that concluded on 23 June 2017.
However, today the council announced that following a pre-planned discussion with GMB on 27 June, the union had agreed to abide by an existing and legally-binding ACAS arbitration decision.
In doing so, GMB accepted previously agreed and implemented changes to refuse and recycling staff’s contract terms, the authority said.
A spokesperson from the council said: “RBBC has issued a statement to affected staff apologising for any confusion or upset caused to them by the negotiations between the council and the GMB.
“RBBC regards this matter as closed and looks forward to future positive working relationships with its refuse and recycling crews and the GMB.”
Birmingham
However, in Birmingham, strike action by refuse collection operatives is going ahead over proposed job cuts and changes to staffing levels.
Birmingham city council has responded to planned strike action by its refuse workers, noting that while it regrets the dispute, the changes will save the authority £5.2 million a year.
Earlier this week (22 June) trade union Unite announced a 90% vote in favour of strike action by refuse workers at the city council.
Yesterday Unite confirmed that the strike action, planned for today (30 June), is going ahead and accused the council of ‘playing fast-and-loose’ over the union’s offer to engage in talks with the conciliation service, ACAS.
There are also plans for a series of two hour stoppages taking place on four days in July and one day in August. There will also be an overtime ban with workers adhering to their contracted hours.
The vote followed 122 proposed job cuts to the city’s waste and refuse service.
Lynne Shakespeare, Unite regional offer, said: “The council wants to axe 122 waste collection jobs after a woefully inadequate consultation with the unions.
“The process was a sham, bordering on a farce – and that’s why Unite members will be taking strike action to protect services to the public in the UK’s biggest local authority.”
Savings
In statement released on Tuesday (27 June) council corporate director for place, Jacqui Kennedy, said the council’s waste collection service must become more efficient, and as a result changes to working practices are ‘inevitable’.
She continued: “By switching the working time from four nine hour days to five seven-and-a-half hour days Birmingham will move into line with most other cities and save £5.2 million a year.
“We regret that disputes have been registered by four unions and that disruptive action by UNITE is planned. We want to get round the table with the unions. But our priority must be Birmingham residents and businesses.
“The current working arrangements are not cost-effective and do not provide citizens with a good service.”
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