Eastbourne bin strike: Action to continue despite pay rise offer

On Wednesday, January 5, Eastbourne Borough Council offered a seven per cent increase in pay to drivers and a three per cent increase to all other South East Environmental Services Limited (SEESL) staff.

A GMB spokesperson said, “Eastbourne’s bin strike is set to go ahead tomorrow after the council issued a ‘misleading’ public statement.

“GMB met with council bosses yesterday (January 6), where they offered drivers approximately £12.30 per hour - a far cry from the drivers’ claim for £13.50 per hour – still considerably lower than the industry standard.

“Instead of waiting for drivers to vote on the new offer, the council made a public statement outlining the deal.”

GMB organiser Declan MacIntyre added, “All our drivers want is the going rate for HGV drivers – so they can make ends meet in an expensive part of the country.

“For the council to offer well below that shows they’re not serious about their workers and not serious about preventing disruption to 50,000 Eastbourne residents.

“For them to issue a misleading statement before their drivers have had time to vote on it shows a distinct lack of respect.

“The last thing these drivers want to do is strike – and they are so sorry about the impact this will have on the people of Eastbourne – but the barbaric working conditions they suffer leave them with no choice.”

An Eastbourne Borough Council spokesperson said the council had no comment to make other than their previous statement.