Leeds bin strikers reject new offer

The Leeds bin workers’ strike was continuing this week after GMB members rejected a compromise deal to implement equal pay.

by Tribune Web Editor
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

by René Lavanchy

The Leeds bin workers’ strike was continuing this week after GMB members rejected a compromise deal to implement equal pay.

The offer reduced the pay cut from £6,000 to £1,000 in return for a new “bin lift” target of 220 properties per hour, but the union said this was not realistic. GMB regional secretary Tim Roache said: “A significant number of the strikers are being asked to work longer and harder and in return they are expected to take pay cuts of over £1,000… The members rightly feel that the scheme will never deliver the money and that they will still be facing the substantial and unaffordable pay cuts.”

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About The Author

  • John Fricker

    Councils like Leeds have neglected their equal pay obligations for over 30 years. Now they are cash-strapped because of successive government’s under-funding at a time when predatory lawyers are costing them £millions in equal pay claims. Their answer is to unfairly rob some workers to pay for other workers’ equal pay awards.

    The job evaluation process used by councils subjectively scores jobs according to the duties and responsibilities. It is how the scores are translated into grades, the ‘pay line’, which determines the extent and magnitude of the grade
    shifts. Refuse collectors have actually gained at some councils. Leeds has CHOSEN to draw its ‘pay line’ to rob the refuse collectors. They are effectively being made the ‘whipping boy’ for the council’s equal pay failings.

    It’s good to see the GMB and Unison supporting the Leeds refuse collectors’ rejection of the swingeing, life-changing, pay cuts. The national unions have previously done little to oppose similar pay cuts. Unison in particular seems to have had an ‘equal pay at ANY cost’ policy which has involved accepting pay cuts for its members.

    Leeds Council could have redrawn its ‘pay line’ to avoid the pay cuts before attitudes hardened.

  • John Fricker

    Councils like Leeds have neglected their equal pay obligations for over 30 years. Now they are cash-strapped because of successive government’s under-funding at a time when predatory lawyers are costing them £millions in equal pay claims. Their answer is to unfairly rob some workers to pay for other workers’ equal pay awards.

    The job evaluation process used by councils subjectively scores jobs according to the duties and responsibilities. It is how the scores are translated into grades, the ‘pay line’, which determines the extent and magnitude of the grade
    shifts. Refuse collectors have actually gained at some councils. Leeds has CHOSEN to draw its ‘pay line’ to rob the refuse collectors. They are effectively being made the ‘whipping boy’ for the council’s equal pay failings.

    It’s good to see the GMB and Unison supporting the Leeds refuse collectors’ rejection of the swingeing, life-changing, pay cuts. The national unions have previously done little to oppose similar pay cuts. Unison in particular seems to have had an ‘equal pay at ANY cost’ policy which has involved accepting pay cuts for its members.

    Leeds Council could have redrawn its ‘pay line’ to avoid the pay cuts before attitudes hardened.

  • Robert

    Some Unions are more interested in what the Bose’s get or can give them then the membership.

  • Robert

    Some Unions are more interested in what the Bose’s get or can give them then the membership.

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