BIN workers who have been striking in Thurrock over planned changes to their pay and conditions have claimed victory in their battle with Thurrock Council and are set to go back to work – but other workers affected by the council's 'Modernising Rewards' programme could yet put a spoke in any deal.

Thurrock Council broke news this morning that they have reached a deal with the Unite union, which represents members of its environmental services team but have made no mention of other workers affected by the programme.

Care workers represented by the GMB union and other workers represented by the Unison union have also been in dialogue with the council and took part in a recent meeting with the authority and the arbitration service ACAS.

However, Thurrock Nub News has spoken to sources representing the other workers this afternoon (Friday, 21 May) and, while the bin workers are celebrating, we have been told other workers have not yet made any decisions. Both the GMB and Unison have been in consultation with members about industrial action, also up to and including a strike.

And the portent for a settlement after the ACAS meeting was 'not good' said one contact – who described the council's amended version of 'Modernising Rewards' as 'appalling.

This afternoon we were told there was concern that Unite might have brokered terms outside that put forward by the council to other workers. Nub News has asked the council exactly what changes have been made to Modernising Rewards and who they apply to. We will update readers if we get a response.

Meanwhile, joy is unconfined in the Unite camp (where 90 members of the bins collection team have been on strike), it appears.

A social media statement from one local union representative, Willie Harris, who has come on for a lot of personal abuse on social media, says: "Facing huge cuts to their overall pay, these brave men and women took six weeks of strike action that eventually saw a highly ideological Conservative-led council back down.

"They faced down police harassment, ASBO notices, smear campaigns, threats from thugs and the full propaganda machine of a well-funded local authority.

"We often hear the phrase "workers won't pay the price for the Pandemic!" bandied about.

"The unfortunate reality is that we will - unless we organise, we stick together and we fight back.

"The victory here isn't just for these workers. It's for all of us. It's for the bus driver facing fire and rehire. It's for the care worker with no sick pay. It's for the supermarket worker being paid peanuts by conglomerates turning Christmas profits every week. It's for those of us who work and build this world and it's a blow to those who are good for nothing but trying to profit off the back of us.

"The ink isn't dry yet, and we remain ready and vigilant, but I think we can chalk this up as a win."

The rhetoric from the official Unite channels is less emotive and is also short on detail about the new deal.

A statement says: "The workers faced losing between £1,200 and £3,800 a year but the Council has now made positive changes to the original proposal which means members will not have a reduction to their pay.

"The workers will return to work on Monday, 24 May.

Unite regional officer Michelle Cook added: "This deal is a victory for the workers who stood firm for six weeks in a strike to defend their pay. The workers and the residents of Thurrock will be pleased that the council has amended its plans, and services can get back to normal.

"These essential workers, who were applauded for their work through the pandemic, now deserve to be applauded for the solidarity and determination they showed. When workers organise, workers win."