A Thanet bin strike has been averted after the council made a ‘bumper’ pay offer yesterday [Monday 18 September], says the GMB union.
GMB members who work as refuse, recycling and street cleansing operatives for Thanet District Council had voted for industrial action and were ready to walk out in a dispute over pay.
The members employed by the council directly were asking for £15ph for drivers and £12ph for loaders.
Staff were due to start industrial action on Monday (September 11) but this was suspended for a meeting with Thanet council, facilitated by ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service).
Thanet council has now offered a further 5.75 per cent on top of its previous offer.
GMB members in Canterbury took 67 days of strike action and won £15 an hour for drivers and £12 an hour for loaders. Thanet District Council has now agreed to offer similar terms and to implement the rise from 1 November.
GMB members were balloted in their workplace yesterday and accepted the council’s improved offer
Frank Macklin, GMB Organiser, said: “Thanet residents will be relieved to hear that the council has done the right thing and agreed to pay their refuse and recycling workers the going rate for the job.
“It’s clear Thanet council didn’t want a long-protracted and messy dispute like the one seen in Canterbury.
“This result is testament to the determination of GMB members in Thanet who were willing to strike to get the pay rates they deserve, as well as their colleagues in Canterbury who made huge personal sacrifices to demonstrate what refuse workers should be paid.
“This campaign will now continue to spread across the South East and our message to refuse workers is clear: contact GMB and we will be happy to help you win a better pay deal.”
A Thanet council spokesperson said: “Negotiations between the council and the GMB Union have concluded today (Tuesday 19 September).
“This means that the current pay dispute is formally closed and industrial action will no longer go ahead, avoiding potential disruption to residents’ waste and cleansing services.
“The proposed agreement which has been accepted by members of the GMB Union means that pay levels for these staff will be comparable to staff doing similar jobs in other councils.”
