BIN workers across the county have been protesting today raising attention to their call for Cumberland Council to 'come out of hiding' and resolve the longstanding refuse collection dispute. 

The former Allerdale area is currently being hit by ongoing strikes by refuse workers, who are demanding wage parity with their colleagues in the former Copeland and Carlisle council areas.

Today (June 27), saw workers protest outside of council offices across the county, including Allerdale House and on Botchergate. 

Robert Charlesworth, secretary of Unite Community Cumbria, said: "Unite members and other trade unionists protested outside Cumberland Council offices in Carlisle today, standing in solidarity with Allerdale bin workers who are demanding equal pay with bin workers elsewhere in Cumberland.

"The workers in Allerdale are suffering the same as those in Coventry, Birmingham and elsewhere, with Labour councils choosing to use the latest Tory anti-union laws to break strikes by paying agency workers more than their own loyal workforce, rather than agree to their reasonable demands.

"The Labour Party is biting the hand that feeds it. If you bite the hand that feeds you, eventually it will hit back," he said. 

News and Star: Unite representatives take to Cumberland offices in Carlisle Unite representatives take to Cumberland offices in Carlisle (Image: Unite)

The workers, who are employed by Allerdale Waste Services, a company that is owned by Cumberland council, have been on all-out strike since May 16 in a dispute over low pay.

The loaders are paid £10.90 an hour, while the drivers, who must hold an HGV licence, receive £11.89 an hour.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Cumberland council needs to come out of hiding. It owns Allerdale Waste Service and it is in its power to resolve this dispute." 

Cumberland Council leader Mark Fryer said the union however has refused to put a formal offer on the table. 

In response to Workington's MP, Mark Jenkinson, criticising the leader for refusing to meet over the issue.  

Cllr Fryer said: “An industrial dispute such as this must be resolved through the appropriate channels, following established protocols which ensure fairness and transparency and not through unofficial meetings.

"I’m sure Mr Jenkinson and members of the public understand this. We all want to find a resolution to get waste services staff back to work as quickly as possible.

"As Mr Jenkinson will be aware, several clear offers to improve terms and conditions have already been put to trade union representatives by Allerdale Waste Services (AWS - the Cumberland council-owned waste collection body) which disappointingly have been refused.

“I know AWS are inviting the trade unions to further discussions and negotiations within the appropriate channels and have asked that they put a formal offer on the table which they have so far refused to do.

"This significantly hinders the progress towards a resolution as constructive dialogue requires both parties to put forward proposals and engage in meaningful negotiations.

"Perhaps Mr Jenkinson could encourage the trade unions to present an offer to AWS for consideration.

“I remain confident that we can work towards a resolution that meets the needs of the community while maintaining the integrity of the processes in place," he said.