Officials brought in to help resolve Adur and Worthing bin strike
Council and union bosses are meeting with ACAS in Worthing today (Thursday 31, March) in a bid to bring bin strikes to an end
A meeting is taking place at Worthing Town Hall today (Thursday 31, March) to try and resolve a bin strike, which is now into its third week.
At the invitation of Adur & Worthing Councils, ACAS officials are hoping to hold meetings with the GMB and UNISON and also officials from the Councils.
The Councils are hoping separate talks with all parties could bring a resolution. However, it is not known if UNISON, which is the recognised union across all Councils services, will attend. It has made an official complaint to the union umbrella body the Trades Union Council about the conduct of the GMB local leadership.
A spokesman for the Councils said: "It is important to recognise that ACAS is an independent body of mediation experts who we very much hope will be able to help us find a solution to this damaging strike. We have done everything we can to find a way through this dispute which is fairly unique in that an incoming union to a place of work is challenging an existing union for the right to negotiate on pay and conditions.
"We have always respected our staff’s right to join a union of choice but there are guidelines and legal parameters in place on official recognition that simply cannot be ridden roughshod over. We hope we can navigate these difficult waters quickly."
He added that officers were working on further measures to mitigate the pressure on residents which would be announced soon.
Greatest Hits Radio Sussex has approached the GMB Union for a comment.