Council denies payments to union’s binmen were ‘secret’
BIRMINGHAM City Council has admitted to making payments to bin workers who did not strike last year, but denied they were ‘secret’ rewards.
As Unite workers began voting on whether to take further industrial action shortly after Christmas, the authority has moved to clear up the latest controversy to afflict its waste collection service.
Unite led the three-month walkout last year over a pay grade dispute and has accused the council of making ‘sweetheart’ payments – reported to be up to £4,000 each – to GMB members for not taking part and effectively ‘blacklisting’ their own members.
Now the council has confirmed that the payments to the GMB were a settlement payment they reached with the union because they failed to consult with them properly about imposing changes to service, which came about as a resolution with Unite.
A spokesman said: “We remain committed to working with our hard working and dedicated staff and the trade unions to deliver a waste service that the citizens of Birmingham deserve.
“The leadership of Unite have made a number of claims as to why they believe that new industrial action in the waste management service is now required.
“The position of the council is clear and unequivocal; no payments were made to council employees who were represented by the GMB union in the refuse service for not going on strike during the industrial action last year.
“GMB did initiate the legal process against the council for a failure to consult claim.
“The council went into talks with ACAS and the GMB union which then led to a settlement payment for the GMB trade union.
“We would urge all the trade unions in the council to continue to strengthen the constructive relationship built over the last year in the waste management service so that by working together we can deliver a modern and efficient service of Birmingham.”
GMB also denied that the payments were ‘secret’ rewards.
The ballot of Unite members will close on December 14. If they vote to strike they would have to give the council 14 days worth of notice meaning the earliest they could demonstrate would be December 28.
Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett has described the situation as ‘simply astounding’ accusing the council of ‘discriminitary behaviour’.
The latest row comes within weeks of bins boss Cllr Majid Mahmood vowing that disruption was nearing an end. He even predicted the best Christmas performance for bin collections on record unless it snowed.
The fundamental changes to the department as a result of last year’s strike and subsequent resolution, including introducing Waste Recycling Collection Officers on rounds to boost recycling, and changing shifts from a four to five day working week. for every citizen