Update on Council response to Unite ballot plans
The following is a statement from Birmingham City Council in response to plans from Unite the union to ballot its members in the waste management service with regards to possible strike action.
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “We remain committed to working with our hard working and dedicated staff and the Trades 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 for every citizen of Birmingham.”
