Bin Strikes (16 Viewers)

[Nick]

On the union website it says:

The basic starting salary for the affected workers is jut £22,183 which is far below the average earnings of an HGV driver in the area. Unite has been seeking to resolve the issue around pay for over a year without success.

There's no mention of new recruits, they are just comparing it to other driving jobs which clearly aren't like for like as they are longer hours, work over Christmas, no pension etc etc.

Yet whenever a bin man is interviewed they are just saying they can't afford to feed their families and heat their house, I still don't get why they wouldn't go to a job with more hours for more money?

The union's regional director Simon O'Keefe said workers "should get fair pay for a fair day's work for the skills and knowledge that they have", referring to each driver holding an HGV licence.

It's all being compared to other driving jobs, then when you dig down to it you can see why it's less pay at the council than other places.

 

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[Deleted member 5849]

It's all being compared to other driving jobs, then when you dig down to it you can see why it's less pay at the council than other places.

They've done well to keep all those conditions tbh. I thought that kind of thing was long gone!

 

[Evo1883]

On the union website it says:



There's no mention of new recruits, they are just comparing it to other driving jobs which clearly aren't like for like as they are longer hours, work over Christmas, no pension etc etc.

Yet whenever a bin man is interviewed they are just saying they can't afford to feed their families and heat their house, I still don't get why they wouldn't go to a job with more hours for more money?



It's all being compared to other driving jobs, then when you dig down to it you can see why it's less pay at the council than other places.

ACAS have already established the jobs pay is below the market rate , that's in comparison with similar jobs / responsibilities .

 

[Marty]

ACAS have already established the jobs pay is below the market rate , that's in comparison with similar jobs / responsibilities .

We've already established that your terms and conditions are far superior to those jobs. Theres having your cake and eating it but this lot want their cake and the next persons and have it spoon fed to them as well.

 

[Evo1883]

We've already established that your terms and conditions are far superior to those jobs. Theres having your cake and eating it but this lot want their cake and the next persons and have it spoon fed to them as well.

I don't think you've grapsed what I've said .. for my job role , ACAS have said we aren't paid enough , marty in SBT opinion is just that...his

 

[Deleted member 5849]

for my job role , ACAS have said we aren't laid enough

Christ, you're after hookers now as well?!?

 

[shmmeee]

We've already established that your terms and conditions are far superior to those jobs. Theres having your cake and eating it but this lot want their cake and the next persons and have it spoon fed to them as well.

Stand aside ACAS.

 

[Nick]

ACAS have already established the jobs pay is below the market rate , that's in comparison with similar jobs / responsibilities .

What are they comparing it to as you seem to have some hefty benefits? (which is why people don't want to leave for a job paying 10k more).

 

[Evo1883]

What are they comparing it to as you seem to have some hefty benefits? (which is why people don't want to leave for a job paying 10k more).

Other bin drivers for starters

 

[Nick]

Other bin drivers for starters

I still don't get why the union are focusing on other driving jobs in general and mentioning HGV stuff?

The dispute is a result of the council failing to improve the pay rates for its refuse collection drivers who must hold an HGV licence. The drivers are paid as little as £22,000 per annum. Given the ongoing lorry driver shortage, they could earn far more elsewhere.

Then as soon as you ask "why dont they?" you realise, no mention of internal wage differences.

 

[stay_up_skyblues]

Not sure mate , 95% blockage to 0% , feel better in myself than i have done for a while , just some anxiety to get over is all

Eating less shite , no longer smoke cigarettes .

In a good place really

Good move mate. One of the two greatest things I ever did to improve health and I feel immeasurably better a couple of years on. You won’t like the other though.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Typical left wing tactics, as soon as you get called out, play the victim.

I'm behind the council now, sack the lot and get contractors in. At least the tax payer wouldn't have the burden of the gold plated bin men pensions any more.

No, they'll be paying for the gold-plated fixtures of the private company's boss' home instead givn the increase in cost of hiring private.

Fuck binmen being able to take care of themselves in their later years. Let's get that money to the people that really need it - business owners.

 

[Nick]

Still no mention of some paid more than others, just cost of living etc etc?

 

[Deleted member 5849]

No bins emptied for me today

It's the hope that gets you.

 

[rob9872]

What's the end game after March if they hold out? Further strikes? I imagine some are pissed at being out already. Divide and conquer perhaps?

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

What's the end game after March if they hold out? Further strikes? I imagine some are pissed at being out already. Divide and conquer perhaps?

Mate who was high up in the council thinks they’ll just end up making them redundant and employing others. Shit will hit the fan. I think unite is letting down their members making this a national campaign about the Labour Party

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Mate who was high up in the council thinks they’ll just end up making them redundant and employing others. Shit will hit the fan. I think unite is letting down their members making this a national campaign about the Labour Party

Has Mr Starmer made any comment on it?

 

[Adge]

Fair play to them. Certainly making their mark!

 

[fernandopartridge]

Mate who was high up in the council thinks they’ll just end up making them redundant and employing others. Shit will hit the fan. I think unite is letting down their members making this a national campaign about the Labour Party

You can't make somebody redundant and then immediately replace them, your mate in the council sounds like an idiot.

 

[Nick]

You can't make somebody redundant and then immediately replace them, your mate in the council sounds like an idiot.

There are ways round it. Although they would be opening up for sisu type legal action.

 

[Marty]

There are ways round it. Although they would be opening up for sisu type legal action.

Making people redundant and 'outsourcing' their job via contractors/agency is the easy way round it and completely legal.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Indeed Starmer has

Sir Keir Starmer: Labour will not be influenced by Unite union funding threats

The Labour leader says he won't be influenced by Unite's threat to cut support over pay dispute.

www.bbc.co.uk

At least it’s pretty clear the leader of the Labour Party doesn’t care much for at least this particular part of the labour movement.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Indeed Starmer has

Sir Keir Starmer: Labour will not be influenced by Unite union funding threats

The Labour leader says he won't be influenced by Unite's threat to cut support over pay dispute.

www.bbc.co.uk

At least it’s pretty clear the leader of the Labour Party doesn’t care much for at least this particular part of the labour movement.

You expect him to say yep, we'll be influenced by unions and only unions, and we'll jump to whatever they say because they give us some cash? That'd play well when images of '70s strikes are invoked in the next election campaign.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

You expect him to say yep, we'll be influenced by unions and only unions, and we'll jump to whatever they say because they give us some cash? That'd play well when images of '70s strikes are invoked in the next election campaign.

No. What I want to hear is what he really thinks about this individual dispute.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

You can't make somebody redundant and then immediately replace them, your mate in the council sounds like an idiot.

Lol I’ll advise him he’s an idiot. Also wait and see. Do you remember what happened 40 years ago

 

[Evo1883]

Lol I’ll advise him he’s an idiot. Also wait and see. Do you remember what happened 40 years ago

If they make all the drivers redundant (75 drivers ) they'd only be able to hire new drivers on higher wages than I'm on .. which is kind of the whole point .

It's also the only way they could get the few drivers to start last year , on higher wages than me as they struggled to recruit just 5 let alone 75

Your mate is wrong

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

If they make all the drivers redundant (75 drivers ) they'd only be able to hire new drivers on higher wages than I'm on .. which is kind of the whole point .

It's also the only way they could get the few drivers to start last year , on higher wages than me as they struggled to recruit just 5 let alone 75

Your mate is wrong

Rarely but it has been known. The council are playing hardball and unite are using the bin men for a national argument. I’m right behind you but don’t think either the council or unite nationally have your best interests at heart. It feels like you are pawns in their game
Do unite pay your full wage?

 

[Evo1883]

Rarely but it has been known. The council are playing hardball and unite are using the bin men for a national argument. I’m right behind you but don’t think either the council or unite nationally have your best interests at heart. It feels like you are pawns in their game

We are only about 2 weeks into 5 day a week strike.

Birmingham were on full strike for around 8 weeks I believe

Blue bins not being collected , nor garden with spring rapidly approaching

We have to remember Pete unite have helped several councils across the UK in recent months win their pay rises , you have to ask why CCC feel like they can avoid doing the same ? Or for how long atleast

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Took Birmingham 8 weeks of 5 days a week strike ..their council didn't scab the workforce though and undermine the strike so there are differences .

We are only about 2 weeks into 5 day a week strike .

Blue bins not being collected , nor garden with spring rapidly approaching

We have to remember Pete, unite have helped several councils across the UK in recent months win their pay rises

I wasn’t aware of that. It feels political

 

[wingy]

If they make all the drivers redundant (75 drivers ) they'd only be able to hire new drivers on higher wages than I'm on .. which is kind of the whole point .

It's also the only way they could get the few drivers to start last year , on higher wages than me as they struggled to recruit just 5 let alone 75

Your mate is wrong

Such a huge pool of those around .
Law of economics I think.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Lol I’ll advise him he’s an idiot. Also wait and see. Do you remember what happened 40 years ago

They closed the mines down, they are not going to stop collecting rubbish

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

They closed the mines down, they are not going to stop collecting rubbish

Council might

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

They closed the mines down, they are not going to stop collecting rubbish

And it was more the leadership of the union maybe had an agenda

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

And it was more the leadership of the union maybe had an agenda

I never get this argument. Everybody has an agenda-the union’s being to secure better working conditions for members.

The council’s is anyone’s guess

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

I never get this argument. Everybody has an agenda-the union’s being to secure better working conditions for members.

The council’s is anyone’s guess

They want a fight with the Labour Party and a public one and I fear are using this to further those national aims.
Much like scargill became beating thatcher and vice versa