Allerdale Waste Services and Cumberland Council officers are working tirelessly to resolve the current ongoing strike action from UNITE and GMB Trade Unions in relation to the waste and recycling collection service provided by Allerdale Waste Service (AWS).
The strikes are in the context of Unions demanding parity between AWS pay and the pay of former Copeland Waste Services staff who are now part of Cumberland Council.
AWS employees were awarded a 10.1% pay rise on 1 April this year which is based on the Foundation Living Wage (a higher rate than the National Living Wage). This increase was both fair and responsible and saw salaries being comparable or higher than other waste services in the Cumberland area.
Following several unsuccessful meetings with the Unions, at a meeting on Tuesday 4 July, a variety of proposals have now been put forward by them, some of which AWS can accept and some of which require further consideration before a response can be given. AWS can confirm they are 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 AWS 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 AWS proposed on 1 June.
The Union’s 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. This would not provide parity across the waste service which the Unions are calling for. It would represent an uplift of 32% for drivers and 19% for loaders and as well as being unaffordable for AWS, 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.”
Council officers are currently carrying out a comprehensive review of waste collection services across the whole Cumberland 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.
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