BINMEN ACTION THREAT ON PAY; 600 workers propose stoppages.Byline: ALAN WESTON LIVERPOOL'S 600 binmen and street cleaners will begin industrial action next week in a dispute over pay and conditions. Members of both GMB GMB (in Britain) General, Municipal and Boilermakers (Trade Union) and Unite unions will proceed with the action on Tuesday after last-minute talks with employer Enterprise-Liverpool broke down earlier this week. The workforce also includes street lighting, grounds and highways maintenance staff. The majority of the workers affected - 90% - belong to the GMB. In a secret ballot secret ballot n. 1. A type of voting in which each person's vote is kept secret, but the amassed votes of various groups are revealed publicly. 2. See Australian ballot. Noun 1. , 97% voted for action. Enterprise-Liverpool said it was "disappointed" with the decision to go ahead with industrial action. GMB regional organiser Dave Hulse said the action would continue indefinitely. He added: "Despite making a profit of pounds 74m last year, Enterprise claims it has no money to reward the workers who helped make the profits." Union branch secretary Ian Lowes said the industrial action would take the form of hour-long stoppages by each of the public services Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly (through the public sector) or by financing private provision of services. involved, rather than all-out strikes. He added: "Different times will be chosen for different services. "The action is designed to slow down and disrupt services, rather than stopping them altogether. "The last talks we had with employers broke down after only 45 seconds, when we formally gave them a week's notice of the commencement of action commencement of action n. an action (a lawsuit) commences (begins officially) when the party suing files a written complaint or petition with the clerk of the court. (See: complaint, petition) . "If the company is prepared to enter into serious discussions, we are more than happy to meet with them. "This could lead to the action either being suspended or called off. "But at the moment, there is no prospect of any settlement." A spokesman for Enterprise-Liverpoosaid: "We are disappointed the GMB union has decided on unnecessary industrial action. "We are committed to seeking a sensible resolution to this issue without the need for unnecessary strike action and we will continue to talk to the union. "Our workforce enjoys some of the highest levels of pay and benefits in relation to other workforces and has contributed to making significant strides in performance of street cleaning. "We are working with unions to continue to improve standards of service. "We believe it is unfortunate the union is organising the unnecessary step of strike action which could negate ne·gate tr.v. ne·gat·ed, ne·gat·ing, ne·gates 1. To make ineffective or invalid; nullify. 2. To rule out; deny. See Synonyms at deny. 3. much of that good work and could be the first step in a return to dirty streets and poorly maintained highways. "We welcome discussion and are available to meet with the union at any time." |
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