A UNION has warned that further disruption to bin collections could take place as the Labour council is “embroiled” in another dispute. 

Refuse workers employed by Biffa at Wealden District Council began their strike over pay in Hailsham on Monday.

The strike is set to last up to four weeks and the GMB is warning of further action “if necessary”. 

Some 65,000 households will be affected by the action.

GMB has this week called upon Hastings and Rother councillors to insist Biffa cease using the St Leonards depot to cover the work of the Wealden workers.

The work they would usually be doing was covered by agency workers and managers working out of the St Leonards depot on Monday. 

The St Leonards depot is part of the Hastings Biffa contract and not part of the Wealden one.

The Argus:

Mark Turner, GMB branch secretary said: "To avoid sitting down to meaningful talks with GMB or improving the low pay offer already made, Biffa’s Managing Director Roger Edwards has opted to employ agency workers and to order local management back behind the wheel to seek to break his own low paid employee’s strike.

"I would understand Tory councillors getting behind anti-trade union tactics by Biffa, but GMB were shocked to hear that the company had chosen to embroil Hastings and Rother’s Labour Council in the dispute by running the service from St Leonards. 

“This will now inevitably impact on Hastings as well as Wealden's bin collections.  

"Somebody at Wealden council should learn the lessons from the Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne and Adur and Worthing strikes that trying to wait out or undermine GMB industrial action will make things worse in the long run."

The strike actions have continued today, Thursday, while the council awaits the outcome of an offer they gave last week.

A spokesman for Wealden council said: “The outcome of a ballot of its members by the GMB union on a new pay offer made by Biffa last week to end the strike is still awaited

“We appreciate this is an inconvenience and concern to residents and we apologise for this short-term situation while Biffa and the GMB union continue to negotiate to reach a fair settlement. 

“Once again, we apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused by this situation and thank you for your co-operation and understanding during this time.”