Refuse collectors gathered outside Allerdale House in Workington as their industrial action enters its seventh week.
Members of the Unite union held the rally outside Cumberland Council’s offices in a show of strength yesterday, June 27.
Refuse collectors went on strike for a few days in April before beginning an indefinite period of industrial action on May 16.
They are taking the action over pay.
The workers are employed by Allerdale Waste Services, which is owned by Cumberland Council – the authority which came into being to replace Allerdale, Copeland, Carlisle and the county councils on April 1.
Unite has claimed that Allerdale refuse collectors pay rates are among the lowest in the entire country. The loaders are paid £10.90 an hour, while the drivers, who are required to hold an HGV licence, are paid £11.89 an hour.
Allerdale Waste Services says the workers were given a 10.1 per cent increase from April 1.
The unions – GMB members are also involved – and Allerdale Waste Services have met twice – but have not met at all for the last three weeks, according to Unite.
Allerdale Waste Services said it had presented ‘several improvements’ to terms and conditions, including:
- Double time payment and an additional day off in lieu for employees working on certain bank holidays, providing four additional days off per leave year for such work.
- Four additional days of leave for all employees per complete leave year.
- To alleviate any hardship experienced by striking employees, we proposed deducting pay equally over the June, July, and August salary payments.
However, members rejected the offer and the union said they had not met with the company, even though it had proposals and ideas.
Prior to the strike starting, Allerdale Waste Services said it offered and additional two days of annual leave to the entire workforce, which was rejected.
In a statement released to Cumbria Crack earlier this week, an Allerdale Waste Services spokesman said: “We all want to find a resolution to get waste services staff back to work as quickly as possible.
“Several clear offers to improve terms and conditions have been put to trade union representatives which disappointingly have been refused. These included:
“It is important to note that the pay increase from April 1 aligns with inflation rates and is based on the Foundation Living Wage (a higher rate than the National Living Wage). This pay award is both fair and responsible and also means that salaries are comparable or higher than other waste services in the Cumberland area. If the offer of paid bank holidays was accepted, it would provide an additional 1.6 per cent for both drivers and loaders, bringing the total pay award for 2023/24 to 11.7 per cent. This would surpass what Unite and GMB have asked for nationally.
“Throughout this period of industrial action, we have maintained an open stance and remained committed to engaging in dialogue with the unions to swiftly resolve the dispute and facilitate the return of our employees to work.
“Our priority remains the well-being of our employees and the provision of essential waste services to the community. We will continue to pursue discussions with the unions in a sincere effort to find common ground and bring an end to the industrial action as soon as possible.
“We appreciate the patience and understanding of the residents and businesses affected by this situation.”
