REFUSE unions are set to meet Cumberland Council and Allerdale Waste Services next week to make every attempt to resolve the current ongoing strike action.

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

The council and AWS say they have been working tirelessly to provide a residual waste service during a 'challenging period' whilst negotiations continued. 

On June 27, workers protested outside of council offices across the county, including Allerdale House and on Botchergate, showcasing their demands for wage parity with their colleagues in the former Copeland and Carlisle council areas.

Charles Holmes, managing director of Allerdale Waste Services said: "Since the industrial action started, we have collected 82 per cent of all domestic waste on the designated weekly day.

"Where we have missed a collection, we have either returned the next day or later in the week or collected with excess waste the following week.

"Our collection rate for the last two weeks has been 99.66 per cent.

“From 27 April 2023 to-date, 4,470 tonnes of household waste have been collected from the former Allerdale Borough Council area, compared to 4,736 tonnes for the same period last year - this demonstrates 94% of residual waste has continued to be collected during this period of strike action, and that AWS alongside Cumberland Council has worked hard at keeping this essential service going. 

“We appreciate the patience that residents have shown during this challenging period." 

Following a meeting with UNITE and GMB on Tuesday July 4 - at which the Unions put forward a variety of proposals - AWS confirmed what they were able to accept and what required further consideration.

AWS and the council have organised a follow-up meeting on Monday, July 17, to discuss all the proposals.

A spokesperson from Unite said: "Unite Community fully supports the reasonable demand of the AWS workers for equal pay with other refuse workers in Cumberland.

"This is obviously affordable as AWS (wholly owned by Cumberland Council) has been paying an agency £14/hour per worker to supply clients to break this strike.

"This is the real scandal - a Labour council strike breaking against their own loyal workforce and the Unite union.

"Cumberland council should immediately instruct AWS to cease this anti-worker action," they said.