Threat Of Strike Action By Bromley Refuse Workers Has 'Doubled Their Money' - Unite

The threat of strike action by Bromley refuse workers has "doubled their money" with an increased pay offer, which sets an example for other firms that provide outsourced local government services.

About 100 workers, employed by waste disposal giant Veolia, had threatened three days of strikes after overwhelmingly rejecting a one per cent pay offer – but now after talks at the conciliation service Acas, the company's improved offer of two per cent has been accepted.

The stance of the refuse collectors, members of Unite, the country’s largest union, has been described as a wake-up call for other companies used by local authorities in England that they don’t have to slavishly adhere to chancellor George Osborne’s notional one per cent annual pay cap for public sector workers.

Unite national officer for local government Fiona Farmer said: "It is 'a smell the coffee' moment for those outsourcing companies which view local government contracts as a massive money-spinner at the expense of those that actually do the work on behalf of the local communities.

"This is a great victory and a true example of solidarity by our Bromley members – and shows that these companies don’t have to slavishly kow-tow to the pay diktats of George Osborne."

(CD)