Bexley offers collections as bin strikes could stretch on

Bin collection workers went on strike near the start of July in protest against Serco, Bexley Council's contractors, over long-standing pay and victimisation issues.

A skeleton crew is still operating in the borough, but recycling waste has gone mostly uncollected for over a month now, and waste has been "piling up across the borough," much to the frustration of residents.

This week council leader Cllr Teresa O'Neill OBE released a statement saying they were "frustrated" by the ongoing dispute, and that talks were supposedly progressing between the two sides, with Unite balloting their members on a return to work.

Bins could go uncollected until October 3, unless Bexley intervenes, says Unite.

But the around 140 workers on strike have now said they will be continuing to take strike action until October 3, unless the council "deals with Serco (the contractors) now."

They say Serco have "run the service to the ground" at the expense of residents and their workers, who are paid below the London Living Wage, and also pointed the finger at Bexley Council who haven't intervened.

The council said that although Unite told Serco that it planned to ballot its members following talks, this has not happened, and the union has indicated that it will extend the strike.

On Saturday residents will be able to take their white bin recycling waste to two local car parks after Bexley Council acknowledged that "resident's recycling is building up."

Recycling collections are available at two Bexley car parks this Saturday - PA

Plastic, glass, cans and cartons will be collected between 9am and 1pm at Westwood Lane Car Park in Welling and Nuxley Road car park in Belvedere.

The service is a special trial to help residents while services are disrupted by strike action, with Cllr Peter Craske saying they were trying to help residents during this "very difficult period."

In an updated statement today, Unite said they "regret to inform" that refuse workers and street cleaners will be continuing to take strike action until 3rd October 2021, "unless Bexley Council deal with Serco now."

Serco's contract with Bexley Council ends in October, and a new 10-year-deal has instead been handed to Countrystyle Recycling, with the council promising increased investment to improve waste services in the borough.

But the union said that for the past number of years, Bexley's waste and cleansing has been contracted out to Serco who have "run the service down to the ground."

"Bexley Council was made aware of issues with Serco 18 months ago - They had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute before workers had no choice but to take strike action. Bexley Council chose not to.

"It is now time for Teresa O’Neill, Leader of the council to show leadership and support these workers who have suffered at the hands of Serco for years.

"All members are asking for is a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and to be paid money that is owed to them."

In their statement this week, Bexley Council's leaders said: "Like all Bexley residents, we are frustrated by the ongoing disruption to our waste and recycling collections, which is happening because of a dispute in which we are not directly involved.

"Serco and Unite have met several times through ACAS (Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service) and we understand that they will be meeting again very soon. We have heard from both sides that they are close to an agreement.

"Thank you for your patience through this difficult period. We would also like to thank those crews that are working very hard to provide a service."