Bin strikes cancelled due to improved pay offer

Strike action by council workers in Staffordshire and Derbyshire has been called off due to a better pay offer, a union has said.

Bin workers, grave diggers and street cleaners, who are members of Unison and employed by Alliance Environmental Services, had been due to walk out next week.

The local authority owned company runs services for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and High Peak Borough Council.

A spokesperson for the two councils said they were pleased an offer had been proposed and were awaiting the outcome of the negotiations.

The union said a "significantly improved multi-year pay offer" had been made which its members were now being asked to vote on.

If the offer is rejected, the strikes could be back on, they added - with staff due to walk out on 10 and 14 March.

They said employees were unhappy to be working for little above the minimum wage, but that meetings with bosses at Alliance Environmental Services had resulted in an offer both sides believe would end the dispute.

Unison's West Midlands regional organiser Keith McKenzie said: "Compared with staff at Staffordshire Moorlands and High Peak councils, Alliance Environmental Services workers do longer hours on inferior contracts.

"This is neither right nor fair."

East Midlands regional organiser Matt Dwyer said: "The threat of strike action has thankfully led to an improved pay offer that should, if accepted, end the dispute and boost staff pay."

Anna Eastgate, executive director for community services at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and High Peak Borough Council, said: "Alliance Environmental Services are leading the negotiations with their staff. We are pleased that an offer is on the table and await the outcome."

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