Four-day waste week is scrapped in Sandwell

Union bosses have welcomed contractor Serco's decision to stick to the current five-day bin collection after opposing the proposal for a four-day week.

The company, which has run bins, green waste and recycling collections in the borough on behalf of Sandwell Council since 2011, had proposed collections from Tuesday to Friday.

It said the planned shake-up, which would have seen staff doing a 37-hour week over four days, was part of a bid for 'more efficient working'.

But today, Jason Holtom, partnership director for Serco said: "We proposed a four day collection week to our employees for their consideration and feedback as it is a system we operate successfully elsewhere.

"The workforce preferred to continue on the existing five day cycle and therefore these arrangements will be maintained."

Matthew Law, convener for Unite at Sandwell Council, said union members voted to reject the proposal on the change to the working week at a meeting involving GMB and Unison members last week.

Mr Law is meeting company bosses on Thursday.

He said: "We welcome the decision and look forward to continued discussions regarding the modernisation of the bin collection service in Sandwell.

"Workers didn't like the idea of a four-day week as it would have resulted in longer working hours on the days they worked, which is not ideal.

"It is pleasing that the company has listened to workers' concerns and reacted appropriately."

Concerns had also been raised over other changes which had been proposed as part of the reduction in bin collection days.

These included a drop in overtime rates and not being able to carry over unclaimed annual leave from one year to the next.

Mr Law said: "All people wanted in Sandwell was for their bins to be emptied.

"The four-day week would have meant a major restructuring of the system. We will continue to work with Serco on any future proposals they have for modernisation."

The decision to drop the proposal comes as Serco's new boss, Rupert Soames, warned of two difficult years ahead due to several contracts where it was making large losses.

Mr Soames, who wrote down the value of the business as of £1.5billion, wants to sell the majority of its business outsourcing operations.

Hampshire-based Serco employs 100,000 people worldwide.