Mark Whitehead 18 March 2019

Birmingham council and union ‘welcome’ end to refuse dispute

Refuse collectors who took part in a series of strikes in Birmingham are to be given £3,500 each in a settlement which both sides say has ended the long-running dispute.

Unite the Union claimed its members had been discriminated against when it was discovered that workers in another union who did not take part in a strike last year had been given payments.

The council has now also agreed it will stop using crews that do not meet the union's demand for full staffing and will hold a recruitment day so that agency staff will be able to apply for full-time positions.

It will also commission a review of the 'future options for delivery of the waste service'.

Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett welcomed the 'excellent' settlement: 'Unite has been consistent from the beginning of the dispute that our members were simply seeking parity, with the payments that workers who did not take part in the 2017 dispute, subsequently received.

'Once that principle was understood the dispute could be resolved.'

Council leader Ian Ward said: 'Everyone involved has always had the same aim – to deliver the best possible service for citizens, as clean streets have consistently been named as the number one priority for the people of Birmingham.

'We all know the service needs to be better than it has been. This settlement will enable us to lay the foundations for improvement.'

Banning urban pesticide use image

Banning urban pesticide use

RSPB and PAN are working on a letter from local councillors calling on the Government to introduce a national ban on urban pesticide use. Find out more below.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Adults Social Worker - North Essex

Essex County Council
£36101 - £48622 per annum + Flexible, Hybrid
Why Join Us? With us, you can achieve more - for yourself as well as the vulnerable adults you work to support. We're always looking for new ways t England, Essex, Colchester
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Technician

Wiltshire Council
£29,269 - £31,364
The Streetscene team plays a pivotal role in delivering front Line services through the Amenity Contract. Wiltshire
Recuriter: Wiltshire Council

Heavy Goods Vehicle Mechanic

Derbyshire County Council
£27,507 - £29,418
We are looking for a highly motivated Heavy Goods Vehicle Mechanic to join our County Transport team County Transport, Brimington Road Chesterfield
Recuriter: Derbyshire County Council

B2B Account Executive - Health Sector

Spacehouse
£25,000.00-£28,000.00 per year plus commissions – in the region of £40,000 pa OTE.
The opportunity to lead on a brand-new media title, which is being launched by a respected publisher with over 125 years experience. Hybrid working
Recuriter: Spacehouse

Senior Lawyer (Property)

West Northamptonshire Council
£46,878 - £50,071
Are you ready to take the next step in your career, in an organisation where you will be supported to excel professionally? If so, join the new Legal Team at West Northants Council, one of the newest and the fourth biggest Unitary Councils in England. We Northampton
Recuriter: West Northamptonshire Council
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.