North Herts Refuse Workers Down Tools for Christmas

GMB union members employed by Urbaser to clean the rubbish from East and North Herts have voted to go on strike in a row over sick pay and wage increases, the results were announced on Friday (November 10).

American multi-national Urbaser will not discuss paying company sick pay for their contracted employees and have told workers Urbaser pay offer is final.

Workers who clear household waste and clean streets in North and East Herts will begin their strike at the end of November unless management come back with a deal the workers can accept.

Michael Dooley, local GMB officer said: "Our members who voted, are 90 per cent in favour of strike action.

"This could mean household rubbish piling up and street waste left upswept by our members from the end of the month right through to January or longer.

"We have taken this course because we do not think it is reasonable for workers who graft in all weathers, in filth and grim to go without company sick pay if they fall ill, and we have members working for Urbaser on minimum wage who deserve better.

"We cannot see an alternative to Urbasers intransigent stance. Their position is not a penny of company sick pay will be paid, which is outrageous in our country in this day and age".

The strike could mean the 70 GMB members picketing Urbaser workplaces in Letchworth and Buntingford until the strike is resolved.

A recent Freedom of Information request shows that Urbaser have paid tens of thousands of pounds in performance related costs to East and North Herts councils two years running from 2022 and 2022.

The GMB feel that they will now have continuing problems with Urbaser following the company's recent decision to ban the union from going onto the company's premises to speak with their members.

Dooley added. "unless Urbaser start to work with the union, disputes like these are likely to keep happening, we prefer to work with a reasonable employer and not to have continual strikes." 

Speaking to Nub News, Urbaser said: "We have been officially notified by the GMB Union of an impending strike at our Letchworth and Buntingford depots due to a pay dispute.

"At this time, there are no confirmed dates. We wish to clarify that the demands put forward by the Union greatly exceed our current proposal, which is both comparable with pay rates within the local authority and is consistent with the National Joint Council (NJC) settlement.

"Given the NJC settlement was agreed upon by GMB members in a ballot that concluded in October, we view the demands as being wholly unjustified.

"Whilst we are not able to meet the unrealistic aspirations of the Trade Union, we do hope to reengage in constructive discussions in the near future.

"In the meantime, we would like to reassure residents that we are working closely with the Local Authority and taking proactive measures to minimise any disruption to front line services in the event of a strike."

Urbaser also disputed the numbers shared by Mr Dooley, claiming that: "It should be noted that the representation of the union's response may be overestimated by anyone reading this statement.

"Only about 30% of the current workforce are members of the Trade Union (TU). Out of these, only 65% participated in the voting.

"This means that the actual proportion of the total workforce voting in favour of industrial action is approximately 25%, rather than the implied majority."