Published Tuesday, 27th June 2017
Here’s our statement on threatened industrial action by some of our refuse workers.
Following an announcement by GMB (the union representing some refuse and recycling workers in Reigate & Banstead Borough Council) that members working as drivers and loaders had voted to take industrial action, the Council’s Head of Recycling & Cleansing Frank Etheridge said:
“We have been in discussions with the GMB for some time on changes to employment terms and conditions to recognise staff working practices in contracts and to bring their pay in line with market rates. Legally binding arbitration between Reigate & Banstead Borough Council (RBBC) and the GMB, facilitated by ACAS, resulted in agreement by the GMB and RBBC, on behalf of staff, to a 3 year pay freeze for annual pay reviews and a 2 year pay freeze for performance related pay increases. This decision took effect from 31 March 2017.
The GMB believed this ACAS decision had been breached but today agreed to hold further discussions with its members over the next few days. We hope this will resolve the matter and await the outcome of those discussions.
Our priority remains our residents and maintaining a full refuse and recycling collection service.”