REFUSE workers have announced another fortnight of strike action as part of an ongoing bin dispute.

In a statement on Twitter, the GMB union announced they have issued further strike dates to Brighton and Hove City Council and claimed that council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty has yet to meet with union representatives to help end the industrial action.

As well as the ongoing bin strike, due to end on October 18, workers will walk out again from October 21 for another 14 days.

“Let’s hope they come back with a positive proposal,” the union said on Twitter.

The news comes after Councillor Mac Cafferty addressed the bin strike in a meeting of the policy and resources committee earlier today, saying that talks are “ongoing and at a sensitive stage.”

He said: “We have attended talks as we are keen to listen and ensure concerns of staff are heard. We want to help resolve the dispute raised by the GMB with the employer.

“For the past few weeks, council management have been meeting with GMB representatives and, following a round of talks on Tuesday night, the employer made a formal offer to the GMB to address the issues being raised, including bin lorry rounds being moved.”

Cllr Mac Cafferty thanked residents for their patience amid the ongoing disruption and said: “The desire for a well-functioning waste and recycling system is one that we share, and we hope talks can lead to this outcome, both for residents and for staff.”

The strike comes after workers voted unanimously for industrial action in their continued dispute over pay and working conditions.

GMB branch secretary Mark Turner said: “The council have been told time and time again about the service issues and detriment to our members health and well-being resulting around tinkering with well-established rounds and moving of HGV drivers outside of their own council formal procedures, yet they ignored our members and workplace reps’ complaints allowing it to go on anyway.”

A spokeswoman for the council said that Cllr Amy Heley and Cllr Jamie Lloyd, the chairwoman and deputy chairman of the environment, transport and sustainability committee, both attended talks with GMB earlier this week.

The spokeswoman said: "Councillors are of course happy to meet with the GMB again."

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