Eastbourne bin strike: Third day of action after pay offer rejected

Refuse truck drivers in Eastbourne have gone on strike for a third day as a row with the local council deepens.

Non-striking council workers tried to drive a bin lorry out of the Courtlands Road depot but were stopped by representatives from the GMB Union.

Eastbourne Council said 19 out of 88 staff were on strike and its drivers on Monday were qualified and authorised.

But on Friday, the union added another week of action after reports a similar attempt was made.

Gary Palmer, GMB Union organiser said: "Every time the management do that we will probably issue a further notice of further dates."

The council has offered a 7% pay increase but the union is holding out for an offer closer to 20%.

It said its pay offer was generous, and that in 2019 all staff received a 4% increase in pay, with a further increase of 2.75% in 2020.

Annual leave had also been increased from 20 days to 25 days for all staff, it added.

Ben Weisz, political reporter, BBC Sussex, Eastbourne

First Brighton was hit with a strike by refuse drivers, and now Eastbourne.

And GMB members in Adur, Worthing, Arun and Chichester are telling their union they're so unhappy with pay and conditions they're considering strikes.

While industrial action often stems from very local disagreements, there is a common thread emerging.

HGV drivers are in short supply across the country and are much better paid in haulage than they are in refuse services.

As the cost of living rises, bin lorry drivers across the South East want a pay boost - and they've seen colleagues in Brighton win one. As one union official put it: "They're realising their worth."

But after a decade of austerity and a very expensive pandemic, councils aren't flush with extra cash. All of which sets up a series of clashes in the coming months.

Declan McIntrye, of the GMB, said: "A percentage of very minimal pay is a very minimal increase. It is below what the market value is. We are not being unreasonable here."

The first day of action was held on New Year's Eve, and members also walked out again last Friday.

A further 11 strike days are planned for late January.

The GMB said it has also opened a consultative ballot of refuse, recycling, HGV drivers and loaders in Adur and Worthing with a view to possible strike action there.

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