Birmingham city council has said it is disappointed by a vote being carried out by its refuse collection workers on strike action, following an accusation by the union of “financial mismanagement” by the council.
Trade union Unite said an overspend of £9.7m by the local authority also led to the industrial action ballot, which started last week (31 May).
Birmingham city council has said it is disappointed by a vote being carried out by its refuse workers on strike action
In response to the announcement from Unite, Jacqui Kennedy, corporate director for place at Birmingham city council, said: “As has been widely reported, the council needs to save £171 million by 2021 and this is a challenge being faced by all service areas within the council.
“In terms of waste management, pressures and demands on the service continue, and mean we have to find ways of saving in the region of £10 million more on an annual basis. Doing nothing is simply not an option. We need to offer our services in a more productive, effective and efficient way.”
Proposals
The director added: “The proposals we are consulting on will achieve all of these objectives and bring the council’s waste management service into line with many other councils nationally. Management are committed to working closely with union colleagues to help them produce alternative proposals. It is therefore disappointing this action is being encouraged whilst we continue to work so closely.”
According to Unite, its members are angry over proposed job cuts to the city’s waste and refuse service and attempts by the council to “tear up” longstanding agreements with Unite covering staffing levels and working patterns.
“Management are committed to working closely with union colleagues to help them produce alternative proposals. It is therefore disappointing this action is being encouraged whilst we continue to work so closely.”
Jacqui Kennedy
Birmingham city council
The trade union said it had been involved in a consultation with managers of Birmingham city council’s waste management and refuse service over the cuts, which was blamed on budget cuts and austerity measures.
Unite regional officer Lynne Shakespeare said: “We engaged with waste and refuse bosses in a constructive manner only to learn that it was a massive overspend which is driving these cuts and not austerity measures.
Requests
“To date, despite repeated requests, we have not been given any information as to how and why such a huge sum was overspent in a year. Instead bosses are ploughing on with their cuts leaving workers to pick up the pieces for their financial mismanagement and taxpayers out of pocket.
“We would urge management to begin listening to the workforce and to start talking meaningfully with Unite to avoid the prospect of industrial action in the coming months.”
Waste collection workers have taken industrial action in the past over the council’s plans to change their pay and conditions. This included employees of the council’s in-house waste collection service holding a one-day strike in December 2010. (See letsrecycle.com story)
However, further strikes planned for half day periods in January 2011 were suspended after an agreement was reached between Birmingham city Council and the trades unions.
The ballot this year closes on Wednesday 14 June and raises the possibility of strike action and disruption to refuse collections in the summer months.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
