Council workers will vote today on whether to take industrial action in a dispute over pay and allowances.

The result of the ballot by the GMB union of staff at the Cityclean refuse and recycling depot in Hollingdean, Brighton, is expected to be announced this afternoon.

Union leaders said they are confident of a strong result in favour of taking action.

But residents in the city are split on the issue.

An online poll on The Argus’s website yesterday drew almost 600 votes, with 46% of people supporting the strike action and 51% against.

 

Check theargus.co.uk for the latest on the strike vote

 

Yesterday, refuse workers were out clearing areas which had not seen collections for four weeks.

Residents in Poplar Avenue, Hove, said that the workers had done a good job of clearing the backlog.

Meanwhile another union has opened up private talks with the council.

UNISON said it is making “significant progress” in negotiations with Brighton and City Council over the allowances of its members.

Alex Knutsen, UNISON Branch Secretary, said the development did not mean the issue is resolved and that both UNISON and the GMB may be in an industrial dispute with the employer.

He said: “The last few months have seen very difficult negotiations, on very sensitive issues for our members.

“We are by no means near an agreement, but following our pressure on the council, and movement on the part of the chief executive, there is, at least, some reassurance that progress can be made to the benefit of council staff and the people of the city.”

But Mark Turner, branch secretary at the GMB in Hove said he was unaware of the discussions.

He said: “As far as I am concerned there has been no development that would bring us back to the negotiating table. The ballot will go ahead and I am confident we will get a strong result.”

Penny Thompson, chief executive at the council said: “There is currently a ballot under way within the Cityclean workforce and the results of this will be reported on June 7.

“We are, as always, keeping communications lines open with our union colleagues.”