BINS could be left uncollected as council employees consider strike action this summer.

Members of the GMB union within BCP Council’s waste, recycling and street services are being balloted as part of a ‘long-running dispute’.

This is centred around the council’s job re-evaluation and regrading process, with the council aiming to harmonise pay across the authority after the merger of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in 2019.

The workers are based at the Southcote Road and Hatchpond Depots.

The union said that council staff are not being allowed to see data informing them of how changes will affect them personally.

This is despite several meetings with the GMB union since members first rejected the council’s proposal in mid-March.

The council was notified of the intention to ballot the workers in early May, after the members raised concerns about the visibility of individual pay outcomes within the pay and reward offer.

A separate ballot for GMB members to accept the latest offer is also running until the end of May, with the council remaining hopeful that the union will accept the offer.

Gary Palmer, GMB regional organiser said: “Our members have already rejected two formal offers from BCP Council, because they strongly feel that they can’t vote on an offer when they don’t know exactly how it affects them.

“This ballot comes as a result of the council’s continued refusal to share this important information with their staff.

“Any strike action and the interruption to kerbside bin collections that would come with it, is directly attributable to the council’s failure to address their staff’s concerns.”

Nick Day, GMB senior organiser said: “We have been clear with council representatives throughout this dispute: our members cannot agree any changes, or consider an appeal, without knowing how it is going to affect them.

“GMB members cannot simply accept that their employer has their best interests at heart.

“It is obviously not too late to resolve this dispute before any strike action has taken place – meet with us and discuss plans to divulge this important information to their employees.”

The ballot is being scrutinised by Civica.

It is now open and will close on Wednesday, May 29, meaning strike action could take place as early as mid-June.

Graham Farrant, BCP Council chief executive said: “We are disappointed that the ongoing negotiations on our offer with GMB have not been resolved and GMB is balloting its members on potential strike action, but we remain hopeful that a positive way forward can be found soon.

“Following local government reorganisation in 2019, when Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Councils became BCP Council, the council continues to strive to implement a fair and transparent grading process and structure that achieves equal pay across the organisation.”