Some bin collections to be a day late as 60,000 homes affected by strike action

Twenty four hours of strike action in Sandwell will start just after midnight on Wednesday in a row over alleged bullying, health and safety, and wage concerns

The GMB Union say Serco has issued a ‘torrent of lies’, failed to replace bullying manager or face workers questions.

More than 100 workers at Serco Sandwell will walk out tomorrow [October 6] after the firm failed to address a management culture of bullying and a slew of safety complaints.

The firm also failed to show up for its own question-and-answer session with workers on October 5 – instead sending misleading written materials to union members.

Workers will form a picket at the Shidas Lane site in Oldbury.

It means garden waste collections will take place a day late and bin workers will carry out extra collections on Saturday to catch up - unless the strike action is suspended.

Residents have been asked to leave bins out as normal, even if they may not be collected.

Serco, which is contracted to run bin collections in Sandwell, has written to union GMB asking for the strike to be called off.

Andrew Smith, regional operations manager at Serco, said “We have resolved the items raised by the GMB in May of this year and have formally written to the union requesting the suspension of the planned strike action, including the overtime ban, whilst our conciliation meetings with ACAS resume this week.

“Unfortunately, if the GMB do not agree to the suspension, from the Wednesday, October 6, garden waste collections will need to take place a day later than usual and we will be working on Saturday, October 9, to catch up on collections.

"We would like to offer our apologies to anyone whose collections may be affected and would ask you to continue to leave your bins out even if they are not collected on the day you expect.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank our employees who will be working additional hours to the minimise disruption to residents.

“The strike schedule, including details of these changes and any delays to waste and recycling services, will be published via the Sandwell Council website, Twitter, Facebook and the email update service.”

Bin staff walked out in August but further action planned for September was suspended after bosses at Serco requested fresh talks.

However strike action is back on the table after talks again broke down.

Justine Jones, GMB organiser said: “GMB members voted to give Serco a month to change their ways. The job is still unsafe. The bullying continues.

“Cowardly management at Serco Sandwell couldn’t even be bothered to face their own workers this morning to answer basic questions.

“Our members are furious that Serco won’t let them serve the families of Sandwell they’ve spent their careers helping.”