Bexley rubbish strike off as pay deal is struck

By Lachlan Leeming, Local Democracy Reporter

A five-day strike involving more than 150 waste collection workers in Bexley has been called off after a pay deal was struck, averting a potential rubbish crisis which could have seen thousands of homes miss out on their collections.

Unite, the union representing Bexley’s refuse workers, announced on Wednesday that it would accept a revised pay deal from Serco, the company contracted by Bexley council to provide waste collection and management services in the borough.

“Our members have voted to accept a revised pay offer from their employer Serco and, as a result, they have called off their five days of strike action that was due to have started tomorrow and run into next week,” Unite regional officer Ruth Hydon said.

“I would like to thank our members for the solidarity they have shown during this dispute that predates the lockdown in March.”

However, she added the union would continue to push for the contract to be brought back in-house, as the council weighs up whether to extend the contract with Serco for a further five years up to 2025.

Pictured top: A previous protest