Police presence at Eastbourne refuse site as workers continue strike action
The GMB Union is after a 25% pay rise for members and has so far rejected two offers from the council
Police are on the scene as Eastbourne refuse collectors strike again today (Friday 14th January), as part of a dispute over pay and working conditions.
It's the latest in a battle of back and forth actions from the GMB Union and Eastbourne Borough Council.
Earlier in the week, the union rejected a second offer of a 7% pay rise from the council, which the local authority said would achieve pay parity with Lewes refuse workers.
Union representatives wants 25% for their members, with today the first of 11 more days of strike action due to take place.
Yesterday the union confirmed today's action would go ahead, after accusing the council of refusing to meet them in person to discuss a deal.
Mark Turner, GMB B50 Branch Secretary said: “The council’s only focus appears at this time is to try to break the strike and blames GMB for the inconvenience to the residents of Eastbourne.
“We hoped they might take responsibility for this mess - given they’ve moved the service back towards being in-house through an arms-length company. Since then they have done nothing to improve the poverty pay rates or welfare, health and safety of their workers.
“My visual impairment means that online meetings can be difficult for me and in person conferences allow me to be properly involved in the discussions - especially when they are so important.
“Unfortunately this simple request appears to be beyond the council, so we have to waste our time chasing them to meet rather than resolving the dispute and bringing the strike to a conclusion.
“Ending walk-outs and avoiding rubbish piling up in the city’s streets was within the grasp of the council if they only showed a real willingness to get back around the negotiating table.”
In response, the council said: 'We do want to meet them. We have already met them and earlier this week offered to meet them again, in person today, in Eastbourne.
'Mr Turner has also said that meetings online using Zoom or Microsoft Teams are not suitable because of his visual impairment. We have offered telephone conference calls, but Mr Turner has also said that calls are not suitable.
'Our offers to meet online and over the telephone are in large part due to guidance on working from home and the risk posed by increasing Omicron infections.
'However, we will meet in person with Mr Turner if that is the only option open to him and welcome him to Eastbourne as soon as he is available.'