The long-running Adur and Worthing bin strike has ended in a massive win for workers.
GMB members in the refuse, recycling and street cleansing department of Adur & Worthing Councils have this morning [21 April] voted to accept the joint councils’ latest pay offer and suspend their strike action.
The pay deal will mean an increase of 8.2 per cent for refuse loaders, 10.4 per cent for cleansing drivers and some HGV drivers set to emerge with 20.7 per cent.
It brings to end the dispute which began in February and has resulted in almost 30 days of industrial action- but the union retains the right to strike until November if the council breaks its promise.
Gary Palmer, GMB Regional Organiser, said:
“This is a tribute to our members and their dedication and determination to win an award that properly reflects the hard work they put in every day, and especially over the last two years.
“It would have been very easy for them to just accept the award that they were offered, but they collectively decided to say: ‘No, I’m worth more than that.’
“They were told it was a great deal - but decided to judge for themselves what they are worth.
“Now have a deal which is not below inflation, but instead reflects market rates for this sort of work and keeps them ahead of the cost-of-living crisis.
“GMB wants to say thank you to the residents and businesses within Adur and Worthing for their support and understanding throughout this dispute.
“Our members are committed to the cleaning up process that has already begun and will have this carried out as soon as possible.”
