'Disingenuous' pay rise offer rejected by Eastbourne refuse workers
Strikes across town will continue
A dispute over pay and working conditions between refuse workers in Eastbourne and the borough council is set to continue, with GMB Union members rejecting the latest offer.
This morning (6 January 2022) the local authority announced it had offered a 7% pay rise to drivers and 3% to all other South East Environmental Services Limited (SEESL) staff.
A statement on the borough council's website said: 'In 2019 when we took over the service, all staff transferred from Kier to South East Environmental Services Limited (SEESL). SEESL is the company set up by the council to deliver waste, recycling and street cleansing services in Eastbourne.
'At the time of our takeover, all staff received a 4% increase in pay. In 2020 pay was increased again, this time by 2.75%. Additionally there is a national pay award negotiation underway and the current offer is 1.75%.
'With the above in mind, we believe this latest offer of a 7% increase for drivers and 3% for all other SEESL staff is very generous'.
Declan Macintyre, GMB Organiser said: “All our drivers want is the going rate for HGV drivers – so they can make ends meet in an expensive part of the country.
"For the council to offer well below that shows they’re not serious about their workers and not serious about preventing disruption to 50,000 Eastbourne residents.
“For them to issue a misleading statement before their drivers have had time to vote on it shows a distinct lack of respect.
“The last thing these drivers want to do is strike – and they are so sorry about the impact this will have on the people of Eastbourne – but the barbaric working conditions they suffer leave them with no choice.”
Members are planning to down tools tomorrow (7 January) and next Monday (10 January) as well as on the 14th of January and for a full week from the 17th.
Eastbourne Borough Council declined to comment.