Talks to avert Brighton and Hove bin strike being held today

Talks aimed at averting a strike by binmen in Brighton and Hove are due to take place today (Wednesday 23 April).

Representatives of Brighton and Hove City Council and the GMB union are scheduled to meet this morning.

When the two sides last met – on Friday 11 April – the GMB Sussex branch secretary Mark Turner said that he had received an “encouraging” letter from council.

Last year a strike was held by binmen, recycling crews and street cleaners as the council made changes to their pay and allowances to comply with equal pay laws.

It left most staff at the council’s Cityclean depot in Hollingdean worse off.

In October new rounds were brought in but binmen say that too few staff are now expected to do too much with too few vehicles.

They want changes that they say will enable them to do their jobs properly.

If no agreement is reached today the union is likely to give a week’s notice that it will ballot members on industrial action.

And if staff vote to strike, the union will have to give the council a week’s notice before members withdraw their labour.

It is unlikely that a strike would start before the Whitsun half term holiday.

Today we received a letter from Council which we find encouraging, have agreed to meet 23rd April, until then possible strike action on hold

— GMB Sussex Branch (@GMBSussexBranch) April 11, 2014