Binmen set to call off industrial action after six-week pay dispute

Published on Monday 3 August 2009 22:04

A breakthrough was announced in the pay dispute between Edinburgh's binmen and the city council last night after union leaders said they were set to call off industrial action that has caused chaos across the capital.

Council chiefs expect refuse collectors and street cleaners to resume "normal working" by Friday after presenting fresh proposals for a wages shake-up to officials yesterday.

The council said it had "repeated and clarified" guarantees given over the past few weeks that staff would not lose significant amounts of money in return for accepting extra duties and new shift patterns.

Although the Unite union has not backed any new pay proposals, the council said it had agreed to call for any further action to be halted while more detailed plans are worked up.

But officials revealed the council had not abandoned plans to hire private contractors to ensure the city is kept clean during the Festival, insisting they will remain in place to help clear a huge rubbish backlog.

Union leaders will meet the workforce tomorrow and Thursday and are expected to recommend the current unofficial action – which has been taking place for the past six weeks – is called off while further talks are held and that the result of a formal ballot is shelved.

Binmen embarked on a work-to-rule and an overtime ban in protest at plans they said could see average wages drop from about 19,000 a year to 12,000.

As the dispute escalated senior councilors insisted staff would actually see their average pay rise to up to 20,500 if they agreed to new jobs and the ditching of "old-fashioned working practices". But talks reached an impasse after union leaders said the council had failed to present detailed proposals.

The council finally brought in private firms to help clear the city centre for last month's clan gathering and then extended the move by putting a contingency plan in place for the start of the Festival season last weekend.

Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "I'm very pleased to report the negotiations have resulted in Unite agreeing to recommend to their members that the current action should be called off. We now look forward to the city returning to its usual beauty."

A statement from Unite described yesterday's talks as "more productive than previous ones".

It added: "We have asked the council for their proposals in black and white, with more information about who will be affected and what their shift patterns will be. If the proposals stack up we will have no problem in recommending them to our members."