Sandwell binmen reach deal over pay dispute

?Binmen in the Black Country involved in a pay dispute have reached a deal.

Serco has agreed to give workers back 65 per cent of the cash they lost under Sandwell Council's single status agreement, it is claimed.

Private firm Serco took over the £650 million waste contract from Sandwell Council in November But workers went on strike and took part in industrial action after their wages were cut by the authority last year. Union bosses said they were delighted to reach a settlement.

Brian Rickers, of Unite the Union said: "After members of management from Serco met with trade union members agreement has been reached to which a percentage of single status payments that were lost have been reinstated with the goodwill of Serco.

"All industrial action regarding single status issues have now been called off.

"I am very pleased. All members are happy. I would just like to say that now we can start moving forward as we have reached a resolution to this. It has been a long, hard drawn out fight."

Serco took over the multi-million pound waste contract from Sandwell Council in November. While working for the council, the staff had been involved in nine weeks of action, working to rule and walking out for two days, after salaries were cut by £2,900 a year under single status, which aims to iron out pay inequalities between members of staff.

Serco spokesman Adam Fergie said: "We are delighted we have reached an agreement."

Meanwhile in Birmingham binmen have announced two days of strike action next week. Union GMB said its members would strike for two half days next Thursday and Friday.

Rubbish has been mounting on the streets of the city, with some residents reporting no collections for a month, caused by binmen working to rule. Binmen worked throughout the bank holiday in a bid to clear the backlog and Birmingham City Council has also employed casual crews to help clear the backlog.