The refuse collectors strike in Allerdale could be drawing to an end as more meetings have been held between unions and the employer.
Workers for Allerdale Waste Services, a company owned by Cumberland Council, started their industrial action in May over pay.
Members of the Unite and GMB trade unions say they deserve parity with their colleagues in Copeland and Carlisle, which now fall under the same authority.
The company said Allerdale Waste Services employees were awarded a 10.1 per cent pay rise on April 1 this year, based on the Foundation Living Wage (a higher rate than the National Living Wage).
It added: “This increase was both fair and responsible and saw salaries being comparable or higher than other waste services in the Cumberland area.”
Union members disagreed and workers went on strike in protest.
Allerdale Waste Services said a meeting on Tuesday saw a number of proposals put forward – some of which the company can accept and “some of which require further consideration before a response can be given”.
The firm confirmed it was able to accept:
- Drivers’ hours reduced from 44 to 39.5 per week and their hourly rate increased to ensure no financial loss.
- Loaders’ hours reduced from 39 to 37 per week and their hourly rate increased to ensure no financial loss.
- Overtime to be paid at time-and-a-half rather than plain time.
- Current ‘task and finish’ ways of working will end.
- Dignity at work training for all Allerdale Waste Services employees.
This is in addition to the improvement to terms and conditions in paying double time for bank holidays, the provision of days in lieu of bank holidays worked plus four additional days leave which the company proposed on June 1, it said.
It added that the unions’ original demands were that they wanted to see the same hourly rate paid as the former Copeland Waste Services staff receive, but without any reduction in hours worked.
It said: “This would not provide parity across the waste service which the unions are calling for. It would represent an uplift of 32 per cent for drivers and 19 per cent for loaders and as well as being unaffordable for Allerdale Waste Services, would exceed the salaries paid in other areas.”
Charles Holmes, managing director of Allerdale Waste Services, said: “The unions have themselves said that a negotiation between two parties should see that both parties are able to make compromises with the aim of finding an amicable resolution and I hope that they will be content with our position as it stands today.
“Some elements of the new requests from the unions require more time to consider and we are looking to convene a further meeting next week to discuss our response to these.
“Throughout this 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. I remain confident that together we can work towards a resolution whilst maintaining the integrity of the processes in place.”
Cumberland Council said officers were currently carrying out a comprehensive review of waste collection services across the whole area which will explore all aspects of how the service is currently being delivered, including the terms and conditions of all staff. Both staff and union representatives will be invited to be engaged in this work in due course.
