REFUSE workers have voted in favour of continuing strike action in an ongoing bin dispute.
Industrial action by members of the GMB union began on April 25 amid a dispute over pay with Wealden District Council and Biffa - the council’s waste and street cleansing contractor.
The Sussex branch of the union announced that members met GMB officials on Friday and “voted overwhelmingly to continue their strike action”.
“We call upon Biffa to come back around the negotiating table,” a union spokesman said.
Yesterday we met our members who have been on strike for six weeks at Wealden district councils Biffa Refus recycling and street sweeping and they are voted overwhelmingly to continue their strike action we call upon Biffa to come back round the negotiating table
— GMB Sussex Branch (@GMBSussexBranch) June 11, 2022
Strike action is forecast to continue until June 25 with negotiations currently at an impasse.
According to Wealden District Council, Biffa has proposed a two-year pay deal, which would give workers a 17 per cent pay increase for this year and a minimum of seven per cent year next year.
However, the GMB union dispute this and claim “what has been publicised, either on percentages or anything else, is not correct”.
The spokesman for the GMB said: “All I am able to say is that we are not far apart, but it’s up to the company if they want to come back to the table. They know what will settle it.”
A council spokesman urged residents to regularly check their website for updates on rubbish collection services and to be patient with staff at the council’s amenity tip, after reports of verbal abuse.
He said: “Although Biffa’s offer achieves pay parity across our joint contract with Hastings and Rother Councils and achieves higher levels of pay than that offered by our neighbouring councils at Eastbourne and Lewes, the GMB members have rejected it.
“We believe it is a generous offer. In the meantime, we are working closely with Biffa to maintain services to residents.
“Whilst the strike continues, the amount of rubbish that can be collected by the crews is limited, so they may not be able to remove some or all the extra waste if bags are placed next to the bin.
“At this time, Biffa is working to ensure as many households as possible receive at least a collection of the contents of the rubbish bin.
“However, when the strike ends, a catch-up process will be implemented to remove excess rubbish.
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