Planned refuse collection strikes in Doncaster due to begin today (Wednesday 23 August) have been called off.
Trade union Unite and Suez – the collection contractor for Doncaster council – have been involved in an ongoing dispute over pay cuts and proposed jobs cuts.
Today (22nd August), Unite announced that a last minute pay offer was agreed and that the strikes, due to begin tomorrow, have been called off.
Suez also confirmed that, following a ‘successful outcome’ to negotiations yesterday (21 August), the proposed strike action relating to pay has now been avoided.
Central Doncaster: planned collection strike action will not now go ahead
Earlier this month, Unite announced an 89 per cent vote in favour of strike action by the workers, members of Unite, and an initial strike beginning on Wednesday 23 August until Sunday 27 August. A further action was then due to begin on Saturday 2 September finishing on Wednesday 6 September.
Long-term
In a statement released yesterday, Nick Browning, general manager for municipal operations at Suez recycling and recovery UK said: “I am pleased to be able to say that a long-term pay deal was reached between SUEZ and Doncaster Unite members yesterday afternoon.
“This means that strike action, which was planned to begin tomorrow (Wednesday), is avoided and it will be business as usual. “
According to Suez, In addition to securing a pay award for 2017, the long-term deal struck yesterday also sets in place a sustainable pay mechanism for up to ten years – linked to the cost of living. The company said this was designed to be fair and provide certainty to all parties moving forward.
Mr Browning added: “We would like to thank the residents of Doncaster for their patience and understanding while these negotiations have been ongoing.”
Workforce
However, Unite has warned that further industrial action is likely if an agreement is not reached with Suez over what it claimed were proposals to make over 100 of the 250 strong workforce redundant.
Unite claims the overall pay increase means that workers will be on average £1 an hour better off. The union said it was further agreed that during the lifetime of the contract the workforce will receive an annual pay increase equal to inflation (RPIx).
According to Unite, the redundancies are linked to a new refuse and recycling contract tendered by Doncaster council, which is due to begin in April 2018.
The union said it is ‘determined’ to minimise job losses and its absolute ‘red line’ is that Suez removes the threat to make workers compulsorily redundant.
ACAS
It has been agreed that talks will begin at Acas on Friday (25 August) to allow for detailed negotiations to take place to discuss the new Doncaster refuse contract which will include “different collection methodologies, frequencies and collection crews”.
Unite regional officer, Shane Sweeting, said: “This deal has dramatically improved the wages of our members and means many of them are being paid above poverty pay rates for the first time.
“However until Suez withdraws the threat to make over 100 refuse workers compulsorily redundant the possibility of industrial action this autumn remains very much on the table.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
