The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) is holding last-minute talks with workers’ union GMB today (30 April), in the hopes of staving off an eight-day strike by Dagenham’s refuse drivers, which is due to commence tomorrow.

The talks, the third set to be held in recent weeks, centre around a dispute over 'pay cuts' to the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Council’s refuse drivers.

GMB has stated that the strikes are being held by around 100 refuse, grounds and cleansing drivers to ‘defend themselves against £1,000 pay cuts’. The strikes were first called in March, after GMB protested against the council’s decision to reduce vehicle drivers’ salaries by around £1,000 a year, while hiring more council employees.

However, the council has stated that the reduction is not in salaries, but in 'overtime to carry out prestart inspections'.

‘Council is forcing the bin lorry drivers to defend their existing pay’

Keith Williams, GMB Senior Organiser said at the time: “There is clearly something wrong when Barking and Dagenham council is cutting the pay of front-line service workers and increasing the wage bill with the introduction of new high-level posts…

“There is no doubt at all that residents need a well-functioning refuse/cleansing service, but there is a question as to whether residents will benefit from any of these expensive new jobs.

“The council is forcing the bin lorry drivers to defend their existing pay and working conditions against an unproven attack to the point when they have to consider strike action to keep what they already have.”

The drivers have already held seven days of strike action in the past two months (18-20 March, 7-8 April, and 23-24 April), and are threatening to strike from 1-8 May if there is no resolution today.

Councillor Dominic Twomey, Cabinet Member for Finance, has previously stated that the borough reportedly pays driver 10 per cent more than other London boroughs, but has to “find savings across the board”. He argued that reducing the overtime bill will help to achieve this and protect jobs.

‘No confidence in council commitment’

However, although GMB has agreed to the talks today, it has said there is ‘no confidence in the council’s commitment’ to resolve the issue, as it had previously stated it was not prepared to enter negotiations.

Brian Strutton, GMB National Officer for Public Services, attended talks at Acas on Tuesday (28 April) and reported that the council is offering drivers £300 in compensation, but is not willing to negotiate any further.

He commented: “[T]hey offered a £300 cash buyout for a £1000 a year pay cut. Seriously!

“GMB does not believe there is any need for change, but, in the spirit of Acas negotiations, [we] said for a £1,000 pay cut and loss of pension we want £5,000 compensation. I don't think that's unreasonable.”

He added that in the previous two meetings, the council was “unable, or unwilling, to negotiate”, and therefore he had “no confidence” that the council would do so today. He also alleged that Councillor Twomey had falsely claimed that “the council had done a deal with the other unions who are not on strike”, adding: “This was… obviously designed to try and scupper the Acas talks today.”

“What I am confident about is the strength and resolve of our refuse, grounds and cleansing drivers who are being treated with disdain by their employer, the council”, he concluded.

The council has refuted these claims, but has said it will not comment on the issue until today's talks have concluded.

Find out more about the GMB dispute with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council.