Bin strikes end in sight with 'restructure' plan

Bin strikes which have hit residents over the course of the last eight months may finally be at an end.

Workers in South Tyneside have taken part in several rounds of industrial action since November over bullying allegations.

The BBC understands a staffing restructure at the council linked to the allegations has now been agreed with the GMB union.

GMB said it was pleased the council had "listened" to members. The council said there had been "no findings or evidence of bullying or harassment".

On Wednesday, South Tyneside Council said bin strikes planned for July had been called off and there was an "end in sight" to the industrial action.

GMB organiser Stuart Gilhespy said it had been calling for an "end to the bullying culture" since the start of the dispute.

"We are pleased South Tyneside has listened and enacted a restructure which has now been accepted by our members," said Mr Gilhespy.

The local authority said the restructure had been agreed with GMB in May 2024 as part of its action plan to resolve the dispute.

It said it cannot "arbitrarily remove people from their roles" and that its findings of no bullying or harassment in the waste service had not been challenged by the union.

"Continuing to cite bullying is therefore misleading and disingenuous," a council spokesperson said.

Follow BBC North East on X (formerly Twitter), external, Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.