Due to the ongoing GMB Union strikes and blockade of our depot, we regret to say there were no refuse or recycling collections today (Monday) and there will be no collections on Friday 14 January.
If your refuse collection was missed due to strike action (31 Dec, 7 Jan, 10 Jan) or will be missed due to further strike action this Friday (14 Jan) please put your bin out on Tuesday 11 January, for collection on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. We will be catching up on these collection this week.
If you have a scheduled refuse or garden waste collection this week (Tuesday to Thursday) please leave your bin out as usual.
All recycling collections have been suspended this week so we can prioritise missed and scheduled refuse collections.
While recycling services are suspended, to help deal with any build-up of recycling at your home please flatten boxes, squash plastic bottles and keep any paper and cardboard dry. You can also take your recycling to the Household Waste Recycling Centre on St Philip's Avenue.
If the GMB Union take further strike action next week there will be no refuse or recycling collections at all in Eastbourne from Monday 17 January to Friday 21 January.
We are extremely sorry for the disruption and distress the GMB Union strike is causing the residents of Eastbourne.
We are working with Sussex Police and adhering to their guidance on dealing with the GMB Union blockade.
It is important to make clear that only 19 out of 88 staff are on strike and the staff driving the refuse vehicles today are fully qualified and authorised to do so. Any suggestion otherwise by the GMB Union is false.
Last week the GMB Union rejected a 7% pay rise offer, they are demanding 25%. It is worth noting that the government pay rise offer to nurses is 3%.
When the council took over the service in 2019 all staff received a 4% increase in pay. In 2020 pay was increased again, this time by 2.75%.
Additionally, there is a national pay award negotiation underway and the current offer is 1.75%.
Annual leave was also increased to 25 days for all staff. Previously, many staff only received 20 days holiday.
