UNION leaders say it is "incredible" that binmen in Brighton and Hove were not consulted over a new street cleaning contract which could bring over a dozen job losses.

The GMB, Britain's General Union, today called for a new forum on which binmen would be allowed to sit and have their say in future management.

The move comes after top-level talks on Friday failed to end a bitter dispute over pay and conditions, sparked by French firm SITA GB.

The firm recently won the £6.5 million contract tendered by Brighton and Hove Council to run street cleaning services in Brighton and Hove from Monday.

SITA bosses have said they may operate with 17 dustbin lorries, three less than currently in use, each with a crew of four rather than five.

Gary Smith, the GMB's regional organiser who will resume discussions with SITA today, has now urged SITA to establish a partnership forum.

He said: "It is incredible that there have been detailed discussions on service provision that have so far not included the workforce.

Standards

"The new type of dialogue proposed by our union will be an inclusive process that will bring flexibility whilst raising standards."

Mike Martin, SITA's regional director, said: "My initial response would be favourable, provided that there was an acceptance that we have a specific job to do as determined by the council and that the forum was inclusive of everyone involved."

Binmen fear up to 17 jobs will go when SITA takes over from current firms CORY, Ecovert South and UK Waste. And they are angry over claims that SITA will not honour pensions written into original contracts.

Now they have threatened to work to rule unless their demands are met.

More than 150 binmen held a noisy demonstration outside the town hall in Brighton on Friday while GMB bosses met with SITA.

After the meeting, Mr Smith said: "Negotiations have stalled and we have not made any further progress. But we will continue in our positive dialogue with SITA and we are hopeful we will be able to move things forward."

Mr Martin said he was "reasonably positive" after the meeting although he did warn there would be changes.

He added: "There seems to be concern that the workers in Brighton do not want to work as hard as workers in Hove. What we want is an equalisation.

"There may be some redeployment."

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