Eastbourne refuse collectors to strike over 'barbaric' working conditions
GMB Union members will first walk out on New Year's Eve
Last updated 18th Dec 2021
Refuse collectors across Eastbourne are set to go on strike soon, over pay and what's being described as 'barbaric' working conditions.
GMB members will walk out on New Year's Eve, 7 January and 10 January, with more dates due to be announced.
The strike could affect almost 50,000 households.
Declan MacIntyre, GMB Organiser, said: “All the staff deeply regret the impact to the Eastbourne residents they serve and sincerely apologise to all if the strike does need place.
“Unfortunately, our members have been left with no choice.
“Their pay is near minimum wage while inflation runs rampant, while the way they are treated and their working conditions are almost barbaric.
“We want to sit down to sort this out. We have offered several dates to sit down and attempt to stop this dispute impacting on the residents of Eastbourne and our members".
In response, a spokesperson from Eastbourne Borough Council said: "We’ve always had good relations with the staff who are based at the Courtlands Road depot, so it was disappointing to read some of the language used by the GMB in its statement.
"19 staff voted to take industrial action and we want to resolve their concerns as quickly as possible.
"We have suggested dates, including this week, to meet and the GMB has now agreed to a meeting on Wednesday, December 22".