Refuse workers will continue to strike in West Cumbria over pay.
A meeting was held yesterday between the Unite and GMB unions representing the workers and employers Allerdale Waste Services.
Allerdale Waste Services, which is wholly owned by Cumberland Council, was hopeful the dispute would be resolved.
However, the talks ended without agreement.
Workers want equal pay with their colleagues in Copeland, who are now also part of Cumberland Council.
But Allerdale Waste Services said its workers were awarded a 10.1 per cent pay rise on April 1 – which made salaries comparable or higher than other waste services in the council area.
Throughout the discussions, Allerdale Waste Services said it was prepared to agree to:
- Pay double time for bank holidays and provide days in lieu of bank holidays worked.
- Provide four additional days annual leave.
- Reduce drivers’ weekly hours from 44 to 39.5 per week, with an accompanying increase in their hourly rate to prevent financial loss.
- Reduce Loaders’ weekly hours from 39 to 37 per week, with an increase in their hourly rate to ensure no adverse financial impact.
- Introduce overtime pay at time and a half, rather than plain time.
- Phase out the current task and finish approach.
- Implement Dignity at Work training for all AWS employees, encouraging a supportive and respectful work environment.
- A one-off payment of £400 (tax free).
Unions have not accepted the offers and asked for an additional eight per cent pay for drivers and four per cent for loaders, which Allerdale Waste Services said was unaffordable.
A waste services spokesman said: ” AWS are unable to accept this. As a result of this, the Unions have stated that they have now revoked their proposals which they put forward on July 4.”
Charles Holmes, managing director of Allerdale Waste Services, said: “It is incredibly disappointing that we have reached this point in the negotiations whereby the trade unions are still refusing to accept an extremely fair offer which in the main, they themselves put forward.
“They wanted pay and terms and conditions to be comparable with other local waste services and the offer on the table would give them that.
“As the industrial action has lasted for almost 12 weeks without resolution, we are now left with no alternative but to consider further options. We will now be engaging with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service for mediation to determine the next steps in seeking a resolution.”
Cumberland Council approached ACAS in the lead up to the meeting on July 4, with a view to them mediating to find a resolution – but the authority said the request was refused by the unions.
A spokesman added: “In the meantime, council officers will continue to carry out a comprehensive review of waste collection services throughout the entire Cumberland area.
“This review will encompass all aspects of service provision, including the terms and conditions of all staff. Employees and union representatives will be actively involved in this review process.”
