The redundancy payments’ dispute at Dacorum borough council in Hertfordshire, which had seen delays in the collection of dustbins, has been settled.

Unite, the country’s largest union, said that its 40 drivers and loaders had now accepted a revised deal, following negotiations with the council’s management team.

Unite regional officer Richard Gates said: “Unite wishes to thank all of our members who supported the industrial action and without their solidarity we would not have achieved this acceptable outcome. Our members are now working normally.

“It is hoped that in future the council will negotiate with the union before imposing any changes to our members’ terms and conditions. This would stop any similar disputes escalating into industrial action.”

The agreement will be considered for approval by the council’s cabinet on 22 May and by the full council on 11 July. The council’s redundancy policy will then be amended to reflect this agreement.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The new redundancy multiplier for staff will be calculated as follows:

  • All continuous local government service up until 2 November 2017, for the purposes of redundancy pay, will be based on a multiplier of 2 x weekly pay for each completed year of service.
  • All continuous local government service after 2 November 2017, for the purposes of redundancy pay, will be based on 1.7 x weekly pay for each completed year of service.

For more information please contact Unite press office on 020 3371 2065.

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union with over 1.4 million members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.