Despite Isle of Wight waste contractor, Amey, saying they’re in a positive direct dialogue with their employees and are confident they can reach an agreement on the issue without them resorting to strike action, GMB members on the Island have voting overwhelmingly for strike action.
The recent ballot of GMB members at the waste contractor resulted in turnout of 77.8 per cent, with 90.5 per cent voting for strike action.
Two-week walk out
The contractor has been informed that operatives and drivers will walk out on Monday 13th June for an initial first phase of two weeks.
The GMB say that further notices will be issued “should Amey continue to refuse to engage and negotiate with the GMB as their own employee’s union of choice”.
GMB have informed Amey of the ballot for strike action result and given notice to commence industrial action.
Dispute over pay
The GMB members are seeking pay rates for loaders and pickers of £12.50 per hour, cage drivers and all driver and grab operatives £13.25 per hour, with HGV drivers – seeking £15 per hour.
Palmer: “Undervaluing employees pay to maintain profits for shareholders”
Gary Palmer, GMB regional organiser, said,
“Amey has and continues to make two mistakes, the first is they are ignoring their own employee’s choice of the GMB union to represent their pay claim, as regardless of any disputed recognition status between us, GMB are not going away, and their staff have backed GMB to take forward their pay claim.
“The other is to continue to undervalue their employees pay to maintain their own profits for shareholders.”
Amey: No collective bargaining unit to negotiate pay
Prior to the ballot for strike action, Amey had said they were disappointed the GMB union were pushing ahead with balloting members on strike action, particularly, they said,
“When the GMB Trade Union does not have a recognition agreement for the Isle of Wight contract and there is no collective bargaining unit to negotiate pay.”
Palmer: Fair pay rise will be spent on the Island
Gary Palmer went on to say,
“Our members and importantly their staff are struggling economically, they are working as hard as they can, but they face in-work poverty decisions on what they can afford to spend daily, leaving them stressed because no matter how hard they work they just continue to fall further into further debt weekly.
“The huge business profits Amey makes from its contract with the Isle of Wight council, all disappear nationally, yet it’s their workers who all live on the Island, who if they get a decent and fair pay rise will spend that pay increase locally in shops and business based on the Island subsequently boosting the local economy.”
“Meaningful talks” can avoid strike action
He went on to say,
“Right now, this strike is going to happen, but it can be avoided if Amey were to seek to enter meaningful talks with the GMB to resolve the current pay issue, if not though any and all consequences regarding the Island kerb-side refuse and recycling collections and any effect on the upcoming Isle of Wight festival lies solely with them.”
Amey: Potential strike action would not affect our IW Fest delivery
Before news of the ballot result was announced, an Amey spokesperson told News OnTheWight,
“Amey provides services for the Isle of Wight Festival outside of the contract that it holds with the Isle of Wight Council and potential strike action would not affect our delivery.
“Amey has established routes of communication with the organisers of the festival to ensure they are kept informed.
Palmer: See if Amey will seek the sensible option
Gary Palmer finished by saying,
“All the GMB union can do now is simply wait to see if Amey will seek the sensible option.”
Image: john cameron under CC BY 2.0
