A TWO-WEEK bin strike set to cause almost a "complete shutdown" in services will go ahead on Monday.

Refuse workers in Adur and Worthing will walk out for a fortnight amid a row over pay and working conditions.

Despite the offer of a big pay rise from the council, GMB bosses say it was not negotiated with them and so the action will go ahead as planned.

Gary Palmer, a regional organiser for the union, said: "It has to be formal talks, a formal offer, a formal acceptance and a formal ending to the strike.

"Until they can do those - the strike is on."

Two weeks ago members of the GMB union announced they would go on strike for two weeks, beginning on Monday, March 14.

From an overall depot staff of 155, 44 voted for strike action, meaning it is likely collection of bins will be severely disrupted.

In October last year Adur and Worthing Councils commenced an internal review into the pay of 109 members of staff in its refuse, recycling and cleansing department.

Now, as a result of the review, 65 members of staff have been moved up a grade and a further 40 who are required to drive HGVs regularly as part of their role will get a permanent annual £2,700 specialist skills supplement.

Four more will get both the annual specialist skills supplement and be moved up a grade.

Each member of staff who has been regraded moved to their new band with a pay rise on March 2.

They will get further pay rises on September 1 this year and then on April 1, 2023 - worth a total of at least six per cent - as well as the national pay rise of 1.75 per cent.

HGV drivers will get an immediate pay rise of at least 11 per cent in the form of the specialist skills supplement, as well as the national backdated 1.75 per cent pay rise - an overall increase of at least 12.77 per cent.