Sandwell bin strike called off but council electricians now taking action
A potential bin strike in Sandwell has been called off although council electricians have now voted to take industrial action.
The GMB union was ready to "push the button" on strike action after Serco removed two bin rounds in Sandwell, regional organiser Stuart Richards said.
But talks on Thursday night have led to a reprieve with Serco agreeing to reinstate the two bin rounds, reducing the work led for bin workers.
It comes amid claims there is a backlog of around 900 bins that have gone uncollected across the borough because of the dispute.
It is believed Serco cut the two rounds on orders from Sandwell Council which contracts the firm to collect bins in the borough.
Mr Richards said GMB union and Serco have agreed to hold talks over three months to work things out.
He said: "We have now got an agreement from Serco to reinstate two rounds and we have agreed to suspended industrial action.
"We think it was the council's suggestion to remove the rounds as part of saving money. We have now got a period of three months to sit down and work out issues. This is great news."
However electricians in Sandwell voted for strike action over pay with fears residents in council homes could be "left sitting in the dark".
Unite, a different union, says around 26 electricians are being denied £1,000-a-year because of unfair pay evaluations.
"Unite regional officer Emma Randle said: “It is unfair that the council is underpaying our members by nearly a £1,000 a year by excluding criteria included in the National Joint Council job evaluation.
"Strike action will severely inconvenience Sandwell council tenants who need repairs and could leave some sitting in the dark until the action ends.”
Sandwell Council said the jobs had been “thoroughly evaluated and matched to appropriate pay scales”.
