Yesterday, I convened a meeting with my fellow East Sussex MPs and Wealden District Council’s Corporate Director and Councillor Ray Cade, the Lead Member for Housing and Waste. The aim was to be resolve the industrial action impacting waste collections. I know that many constituents have been hugely impacted and inconvenienced and I was keen to see what the MPs could do to help.
Both Biffa and the GMB were aware our meeting was taking place and during the meeting Biffa was able to update Wealden that an agreement had been reached and industrial action had ceased. Bin collections will begin again from today.
Wealden District Council has released the following statement:
“We are pleased to announce that our waste contractor, Biffa, have informed us they have reached a negotiated settlement with the GMB union and as a result the industrial action has been brought to an end.
Striking staff are returning to work tomorrow and we will be working with Biffa to reinstate full collection services and recover outstanding waste as quickly as possible.
We would like to thank our all of our residents for their patience and understanding during this difficult time.
Please continue to check our website for service updates while Biffa work to catch up on collections.”
Also, Cllr Ray Cade would like to share the following information with constituents:
“Although the general news is everything is re-starting today, this isn't quite the case.
Today will consist of the intended rounds in the north and some in south of the District, with the main operations moving lorries back to their normal locations and settling in the returning strikers.
Thursday will begin normal collections plus catching up on those residents who haven't had any at all since the beginning of the strike. It's expected it will take about 4 weeks to return to the usual collections of refuse, recycle and garden waste.
I‘d like to thank residents for their support and understanding.
My advice for residents is to keep an eye on the Wealden website for updates on the progress of the return to normal working for waste management.”
I would like to thank those constituents impacted for their patience during this difficult time and am pleased this has now been brought to an end.
