00:00For residents, the bin dispute has meant months of disruption,
00:05missed collections and at its worst, piles of rubbish on streets.
00:09The strike began in January 2025 after the council removed the waste,
00:14recycling and collection officer role from its service.
00:18Unite the Union says affected workers faced cuts of up to £8,000 a year.
00:24The council has argued the role could create equal pay risks
00:27and says changes to the service are needed.
00:30Talks have repeatedly broken down since the dispute began.
00:35Now, new council leader Roger Harmer says negotiations have made progress.
00:40He expects Cabinet to consider a proposal in late September or early October
00:45after legal and financial checks.
00:48Unite members would also need to approve any final settlement before the strike ends.
00:54But Conservative group leader Robert Olden says any agreement must avoid creating equal pay
01:00or sex discrimination liabilities.
01:03Harmer says every option carries risks and will be assessed by council officers
01:08and the district auditor before Cabinet members decide how to proceed.
01:12Deputy leader Julian Pritchard from the Green Party says any deal should be fair and properly handled.
01:19The council says negotiations are complex and need care.
01:23However, until agreements are reached, the binge strike is still not over.
Comments