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North Somerset Set for Strike

30 January 2015 | Updated 01 January 1970
 

GMB members have voted to strike following a long running dispute with Kier May Gurney and its refuse and recycling operations in North Somerset.

The ballot of members resulted in a 90% vote in favour of strike action against the company which has had a contract with North Somerset Council since 2010 that is due to run until 2017.

The operations involve refuse and recycling collections and operating and managing the council’s household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).

KMG collects refuse on a weekly basis from approximately 87,000 households, and from 6,000 communal properties on a twice-weekly basis. It also collect from a number of schools, community halls and similar establishments, and operates bring bank, bulky waste and clinical waste collections.

The GMB members are employed on the refuse contract for kerbside collection across North Somerset and in the household waste recycling centres in Weston Super Mare, Backwell and Portishead. Any industrial action brought by GMB is likely to have a major impact on these operations.

For its side, the company has argued that it has been reasonable in its negotiations with the GMB. “Most recently, we made an increased offer ranging from 1.3% to 1.8%, which was in line with the original guidance given by the GMB,” said a company spokesperson. “We are disappointed to hear that 29 GMB members have voted for strike action out of our 173-strong workforce at North Somerset, because we have listened to our employees, have been keen to engage with the GMB to reach a solution, and have made, what we believe, is a fair and workable offer.”

The GMB has stated that the company has refused a request for information on the cost of the pay bill and other information relevant to the negotiations that the union argues it has a legal duty to supply to assist negotiations. GMB has begun proceedings at the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) to secure this information.

Picture: The North Somerset operations by refuse and recycling company, Kier, could be severely affected by strike action by GMB members.

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 30 January 2015

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