Recruitment for refuse collectors on short-term contracts is set to start in Allerdale as industrial action for bin workers enters its fourth month.
As unions are set to sit down with bosses at Allerdale Waste Services tomorrow – Thursday, August 3 – it has been revealed that the firm will begin to recruit, although it says the decision is not pre-empting the talks.
Workers from Allerdale Waste Services began industrial action in May.
Unions claim the staff are not being paid the same as their contemporaries in Copeland, who are also now part of Cumberland Council.
Talks between the unions and Allerdale Waste Services – a company owned by Cumberland Council – have continually stalled.
Now a meeting facilitated by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service tomorrow, Thursday August 3, has been set up by the firm and authority to try and resolve the strike action.
It will set the terms for follow-up negotiations to be discussed by all parties.
Allerdale Waste Services added that it will start to recruit temporary drivers and loaders on short-term contracts to cover the busier summer period.
A spokesman said: “The recruitment is in no way pre-empting the outcome of negotiation and discussion with the trade unions regarding the industrial action. It is to ensure that the current refuse collection service is maintained.
“Should the industrial action be resolved, and employees return to work, we will still require the additional resource. Like Cumberland Council, we are keen to maintain the dialogue with the trade unions and welcome the involvement of ACAS.
“Since the industrial action started, we have collected a high percentage of all domestic waste on the designated weekly day. Where we have missed a collection, we have either returned the next day or later in the week or collected with excess waste the following week.
“We continue to appreciate the patience that residents have shown during this challenging period.”
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.
