Bank-holiday deal is an offer binmen can't refuse

Refuse collectors at Preston Council have accepted a £500 one-off payment to compensate them for a move to compulsory working on bank holidays.

The deal, negotiated by the GMB, UNISON and T&G local government unions, followed more than six months of talks and rejected offers.

Many of the council’s 70 refuse collectors have worked the five bank holidays between Good Friday and the end of August on a voluntary basis since 2000, receiving double time, a bonus and a day off in lieu.

The council decided to make the arrangement compulsory at the beginning of this year, after a lack of volunteers led to staff shortages on some bank holidays in 2005. In response, the unions demanded treble pay and an enhanced bonus in addition to the day off.

The council refused to accept this and instead proposed a £350 one-off payment in addition to the double pay and bonus. This in turn was rejected by the unions, but the dispute was ended last month when the council agreed to increase the one-off payment by £150.

Under the deal, the workers will still be able to book bank holidays off if they have a prior engagement, with no effect on their annual leave entitlement.