Monday 30th May 2022 – Waste collection and street cleansing industrial action update

We sincerely regret that the strike by members of the GMB union working for Biffa in Wealden continues today.

Our waste contractor, Biffa, have informed us that the GMB union have notified them of their intention to extend the strike action up to the 11th June 2022.  This is disappointing bearing in mind Biffa reiterate they remain committed to resolving this dispute and will continue to engage with representatives of the GMB union to reach a fair settlement for their employees and the residents of Wealden.

The latest statement from Biffa is:

“The Trade Union has rejected our enhanced offer which included above inflationary increases and pay parity with the other two councils in the East Sussex contract, which is disappointing.  We are working hard to minimise any disruption to service while GMB members continue to strike.”

The deal that has already been rejected by the GMB union, but accepted by the union Unison which also has members working for Biffa, would see pay increase by up to 17% this year plus a £600.00 guaranteed bonus.  This would see annual pay levels for loader operatives at over twenty three thousand pounds, this being several thousand pounds above that of the National Minimum Wage and the higher National Living Wage, with higher paid driver roles receiving equally generous increases.  By comparison, the pay award for nurses for 2022/23 is expected to be up to 3% and State pensions are to increase by 3.1% for 2022.

We understand that local GMB representatives have been commenting making statements regarding Biffa not engaging with them in meaningful negotiations.  Regrettably it is difficult to do so when those same representatives make statements such as “we mustn’t start negotiating until the rubbish piles up in the streets.”  Instead, as a national waste contractor, Biffa have been in communication with the GMB’s national office to try to make progress.

It is with great disappointed that Biffa informed us the further improved pay offer made on Wednesday during their meeting with representatives of the GMB union and the independent conciliation and arbitration service, ACAS, has been rejected by the GMB following a ballot by their members.

We continue to believe our residents deserve to know this information to take an informed view on the merits of the industrial action being taken and, whether the strike is being extended unnecessarily by the GMB union.

In the meantime, we can confirm that Biffa have again been able to operate two rubbish collection rounds in the southern half of the District today.  To make the most effective use of these lorries the two rounds being serviced today have the greatest number of properties and will empty bins for almost 1,600 households in East Dean, Willingdon, Lower Willingdon and a small part of Hailsham.

In the meantime, recognising waste collections have been severely disrupted for our residents for more than four weeks, Biffa have been working to put in place more temporary pop-up waste sites in local towns and villages for residents to bring their household rubbish to for disposal without having to travel to the County Council’s local amenity tips.  With non-recyclable general household waste being the priority these sites will not be available to dispose of recycling and garden waste, at least in the first instance.

We can now confirm the next of these sites will operate in Alfriston on Tuesday 31st May between 8am and 2pm and, more will be made available in towns and villages across the southern half of Wealden where no refuse collections have been taking place.  Except for some isolated locations, refuse collections in the north of Wealden have been continuing largely unaffected, although again we regret there have been no recycling or garden waste collections.

Details of what waste can be taken to these sites, together with the locations, dates and opening times, will be published on our website.

Please continue to check our daily updates for the latest information on collection services.

We hope our residents see this this is a positive development and will work with Biffa to maintain or potentially increase services wherever possible to help reduce the disruption while the strike continues.

Once again, we apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused by this situation and thank you for your cooperation and understanding during this time.