Bexley bin strikes off after Unite secures pay rise and defends T&Cs

Strikes at Bexley council refuse contractor Countrystyle Recycling have been called off after workers voted to accept a pay deal that also protects their terms and conditions.

Unite, the UK’s leading union, negotiated an eight per cent pay rise backdated to April as well as a £450 one-off payment for more than 100 workers.

The deal also protects a long-standing job and finish clause in the workers’ contracts, which the company was trying to scrap, and ends set debrief times.

Measures to improve working practices and industrial relations between the workforce and management are also being introduced.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Countrystyle Recycling offered a pay deal that came with strings attached concerning terms and conditions. This was a red line for our members. By standing together in their union, members’ terms and conditions were protected and an acceptable pay rise was finally put forward.”

The workers began strikes on 12 July before industrial action was suspended on 27 July to allow for negotiations under the auspices of the conciliation service Acas.

Unite’s members at Countrystyle today voted in favour of the deal put forward by the company.

Unite acting national officer Clare Keogh said: “This deal shows why workers who want to defend and improve their jobs, pay and conditions should join Unite and organise their colleagues to do the same.”