Collection crews in the area, working as part of Urbaser’s contract with West Morland & Furness council, went on strike in October and November as part of an ongoing dispute over pay.
This included drivers, loaders and cleaners represented by the GMB Union, which had been calling for a rise in pay to keep up with the higher cost of living.
Urbaser Ltd commenced delivery of a 5-year contract extension to provide waste collection and street cleansing services for Westmorland and Furness council in 2022, after acquiring contracts from Amey in a £60 million deal (see letsrecycle.com story).
Negotiations
The latest strike took place for two weeks last month and since then Urbaser and the GMB Union have been locked in to negotiations.
Urbaser has now announced that following successful negotiations, an offer has been accepted in a ballot which took place on Friday (15 December).
Andy Turner, regional operations manager at Urbaser, commented: “We are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement, especially with its timing being so close to Christmas.
“The industrial action, which began in October, marked the start of a lengthy and at times challenging process. Throughout this period, we have worked hard to strike a delicate balance between what is feasible and what is fair. This agreement is a testament to the hard work and commitment of all parties to find a resolution.”
Mr Turner added that despite some initial setbacks, with the contract, Urbaser has “successfully maintained service delivery with minimal disruptions”.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Urbaser team in Eden for their unwavering dedication and effort in ensuring the continuity of our services,” he said.
“This resolution not only provides peace of mind, it also allows us to enter the holiday season with a renewed sense of unity and positivity.”
The ending of strike action in Eden arrives soon after Urbaser also settled a dispute with workers in East and North Hertfordshire (see letsrecycle.com story).
FCC
In the United Kingdom, Urbaser offers a wide range of municipal, commercial, and waste processing services which are dedicated to conserving resources, reducing carbon emissions, and achieving a circular economy.
The company’s UK business is set to be sold to FCC Environment next year, in a deal announced last week (see letsrecycle.com story).
Subscribe for free