Industrial action by refuse collection crews at Birmingham city council has been suspended after talks under the auspices of conciliation service ACAS.
The city council and trade union Unite were involved in the talks at ACAS and the union has agreed to consider a five day working week for collectors.
In a statement ACAS said: “Birmingham city council cabinet members have agreed in principle that the grade 3 posts will be maintained. Consequently there are no redundancy steps in place.
The statement continued: “Unite have also agreed in principle to recommend to their members work pattern changes, including consideration of a five day working week. Both parties agree the working week should be designed to maximise service delivery. To assist in the resolution of outstanding issues both parties will go to ACAS.”
Cabinet
ACAS said these discussions would be with the intention of incorporating any agreement as an amendment to the Waste Management Service Cabinet Report in September 2017.
The conciliation service added: “Both parties are pleased to be recommencing industrial relations and pleased that the bin collection can resume without disruption.”
Birmingham city council noted that today’s position needs to be formally considered by the council’s Cabinet before it becomes official.
A spokesperson for the city council explained: “The ACAS statement in connection with the waste and refuse dispute does not represent the council’s position until these matters are considered at the council’s Special Cabinet Meeting on 24th August 2017 .
“The decision on the waste reorganisation taken by Cabinet on 27th June is still the current position of the council.”
Today (16 August) the union said that the city council had accepted the refuse workers’ case and restored the grade 3 jobs, which it said include responsibility for the safety at the rear of the refuse vehicles.
The announcement follows a long-running dispute between Unite, the trade union representing the workers, and Birmingham council over proposed changes to working practices of the refuse and recycling collection workers.
‘Pleased’
Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett said the union was ‘pleased’ with the result.
Mr Beckett continued: “Unite will suspend the current round of industrial action that was due to run until 21 September to create a conducive climate for the talks to proceed smoothly. Our members will be working normally.
“The council has addressed our members’ concerns, including the safeguarding of the grade 3 post that is vital to the safety at the rear of the refuse vehicles. Unite also welcomes the fact that our suspended rep is now returning to work.”
Mr Beckett added: “We will be entering into these ACAS talks in a constructive and positive fashion – and recognise that there is still much hard work to be done.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
