Bexley bin service to resume from tomorrow after six-week strike is suspended

Bin collections in Bexley will resume from tomorrow after refuse workers return from a six-week strike.

The industrial action has been suspended while a deal between refuse collectors and their employer Serco is ratified. 

Unite, the union, said its members have voted in favour of the deal in principle but are waiting for Serco to carry out its promises before calling a complete end to the strike action. 

The deal includes a one off £750 payment for 19 staff, contract changes that will reduce pay disparities and steps to prevent the weaponization of the drug and alcohol policy.

Unite regional officer Tabusam Ahmed said: “We are pleased that a provisional deal has been reached following an improved offer from Serco. 

“While the deal is being ratified, which we expect to happen by the end of the week, our members will go back to work and bin collections in Bexley will resume.

“Until this deal is enacted in full, however, strikes are being suspended and not cancelled, and our members retain the option to return to the picket line if they need to do so.”

About 140 staff took part in the strike action which started on July 12 to protest their treatment by Serco, who run the contract on behalf of the council.

They took action over a 1.5 per cent pay offer, disparities in pay for workers doing the same jobs, the removal of industrial sickness benefits and Serco’s refusal to hand over years of back pay owed to nearly 50 staff. 

The union, Unite, also believed the outsourcing giant is victimising union members through its substance misuse policy.

As the dispute has grew in severity, Serco increased random workplace drug and alcohol tests, while providing no help or advice for those who may need it.