A review of staff pay, terms and conditions and working environments will lead to more money for refuse, recycling and cleansing staff at Adur and Worthing councils in West Sussex.
The authorities have been looking into the issue since October 2021, working with staff and the trade union UNISON to ensure staff in the aforementioned roles get a fair deal, with the first phase of that review now complete.
Although base pay was already comparable to that of other councils, the review recommends that every one of the jobs looked at should be moved up a grade on the authorities’ pay band scale or paid a market supplement of £2,000 a year for at least two.
The changes reflect additional responsibilities, the need for more flexible working and in the case of market supplements, the recruitment challenges for specialist roles.
Each member of staff who is being regraded will move to their new band, which includes a pay rise, on 2 March.
They will then get further pay rises on 1 September and 1 April 2023, worth a total of at least 6%.
These increases are separate to a cost of living salary increase, which is currently being negotiated nationally for council staff.
Of the 109 posts in Adur and Worthing councils' refuse, recycling and cleansing department that have been reviewed, 65 will be moved up a grade.
A further 40 will get an annual market supplement of £2,000 until at least October 2023, the equivalent of a pay rise of at least 8.1%.
Four more will get both an annual market supplement of £2,000 until at least October 2023 and be moved up a grade.
Commenting, a spokesperson for Adur and Worthing councils said:
“We're grateful to our staff and to UNISON, the recognised union, for helping us to carry out this review, which will lead to substantial pay rises for our frontline teams over the next year.
“We hope they and the unions will continue to share their ideas for how we can make the service better both for them and residents.”
Adur and Worthing councils' review is continuing, including work to rebalance refuse and recycling rounds to deal with the demands of new housing.
Staff are also being offered the opportunity to gain an HGV driving qualification, while there will continue to be discussions about ways to improve the working environment.
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