GMB Union has agreed to suspend planned bin strikes in Brighton and Hove.
The suspension comes as a “sign of good faith”, GMB says, in light of an agreement by the council to revoke what the union calls “the continued unfair exclusion of a GMB Union Representative from his workplace”.
The union claims the representative has been at the centre of “anti-trade union behaviour” from some council officers.
The full series of one day strikes and ban on overtime would have involved operatives from street cleansing, refuse and recycling departments and would have taken place during Pride, the city’s biggest annual visitor event.
It’s certainly too early yet to think this dispute is completely over and there are still red lines as far as the GMB are concerned
Industrial action was due to take place over seven days starting today (29 July) which the council says “would have disrupted” waste and recycling services to 120,000 city households as well as Pride.
Gary Palmer, GMB Regional Organiser said: “It’s certainly too early yet to think this dispute is completely over and there are still red lines as far as the GMB are concerned outstanding along with the need to understand and address the reason behind the potential anti-trade union behaviour against the GMB from within the council organisation by some officers led by Chief exec Geoff Raw.
A council spokesperson said: “We welcome the GMB’s decision to suspend strike action and are pleased there will be no disruption to the clean-up of rubbish during and after Pride.
“We look forward to continuing the discussions about improving our relationship with GMB.”
