TWO councils have halted negotiations with a union responsible for the latest bin strikes following a formal complaint against them. 

Adur and Worthing Councils say they will not be negotiating with GMB, which is currently conducting a bin strike in the area, due to a complaint issued to the Trade Unions Congress (TUC).

The complaint was originally made by the union Unison, which is officially recognised by the councils to represent staff across all services. 

It is in relation to the way GMB moved into the refuse, recycling and cleansing service just before Christmas by recruiting members, and then immediately threatened strike action. 

The Argus: Bin Lorry In Worthing, Courtesy Of Adur And Worthing CouncilsBin Lorry In Worthing, Courtesy Of Adur And Worthing Councils

Unison says it cannot sit down formally with GMB and the councils to discuss ways of resolving the strike and resuming the service to residents. 

Without both unions present at formal talks to negotiate pay and working conditions the councils say they had no choice but to postpone talks scheduled for yesterday.

In an effort to keep the discussions going the councils have invited GMB to continue talking informally. 

A spokesman for councils said: “While we would welcome TUC involvement in addressing this local issue it means we have no choice but to suspend formal talks in the light of this. 

“This means our residents continue to suffer the consequences of the strike action.  

“The TUC guidelines are clear when there is a dispute between two unions and that is that industrial action should be suspended and a return to work instigated. 

“We understand Unison’s position and would request again that the GMB pause its actions while this is investigated. 

“It should not be forgotten that talks with Unison have resulted in pay awards for waste service staff that were above most neighbouring councils deals, including one which the GMB agreed after taking strike action. 

“The residents of Adur and Worthing do not deserve to be caught up in this. 

“We have said we will talk to anyone as our review into pay and conditions continues but we must accept that Unison has an agreement with us. 

“It is ethically right that we accept its legitimacy to represent staff across all of our services, not just waste.” 

Yesterday GMB formally offered an invitation to the councils’ Chief Executive Catherine Howe and director for digital, sustainability and resources Paul Brewer, along with officials from Unison to the picket line in Lancing. 

A spokesman for GMB said: “In light of the latest delays and accusations towards GMB by other parties involved with resolving the on-going dispute over pay, GMB are giving these other parties the chance to address striking workers to put their case, concerns, and requests directly to a workforce unimpressed with the current deal on the table and with their refusal to meet formally with their union of choice.  

“The offer comes with a commitment that once they have addressed members, GMB would be prepared to hold a paper ballot to measure members’ views on the council’s/Unison’s offer and to pause or even end the strike should members choose to do so.  

“The offer comes about as formal meetings planned this week have been cancelled, leaving the GMB and its members with no access to negotiations.  

“Should those talks have been meaningful and progressive, this would have allowed progression of the GMB’s pay claim and a reason to suspend the current industrial action.”