Rubbish could soon start piling up in Reigate and Banstead after bin men voted to strike amid claims the council broke an agreement by varying staff contracts.

Refuse and recycling workers for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council could walk out for between two and four days on a weekly basis over a dispute about overtime pay, rest period and whether staff were shift workers or full-time, a union official said.

GMB, the union fighting the workers’ corner, argue this breaches an agreement with the council, and means staff would earn less and work longer hours.

The union and the council had struck an agreement with arbitrators at ACAS whereby the council would not vary staff contracts and bring staff pay in line with market rates, and staff would accept a three-year pay and progression freeze. This agreement took place from March 31.

The council acknowledged the union’s belief that the agreement had been breached, but is hopeful talks between the union and its members will settle the dispute.

But union members of staff voted to take strike action in a ballot that ended on Friday, June 23.

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Paul Grafton, GMB south east organiser, said, “GMB have sought a mandate from its members for action as the council wilfully breached an ACAS binding arbitration agreement. GMB have been in talks for over a year on services and pay and agreed to a rather unpalatable two year pay freeze suggested by ACAS for its members.

“GMB members confirmed they would honour the agreement as did the council and in writing. The level of contempt the council has showed its workforce is appalling and shameful when they breached the agreement and implemented new terms and conditions of employment.

“The council has called a last minute meeting but we are not expecting them to move on their position. GMB intends to call out its members on a series of two-, three- and four-day walkouts over the next few months. I’m sure the residents in Reigate and Banstead will be fully supportive of our members once they realise what the council have done.”

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The council’s head of recycling and cleansing, Frank Etheridge said: “The GMB believed the ACAS decision had been breached but today agreed to hold further discussions with its members over the next few days.

"We hope this will resolve the matter and await the outcome of those discussions.

“Our priority remains our residents and maintaining a full refuse and recycling collection service.”

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