Bristol binmen will strike from Wednesday
Binmen will go ahead with an all-out strike from Wednesday.
But it was not a unanimous decision and some workers were threatened by their colleagues when they went back to work.
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Bristol binmen will strike
Police were called to Sita's depot in Hartcliffe on Monday to stop the situation escalating.
Members of the binmen's union Unite voted to reject an offer of arbitration.
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It means the full-blown strike will go ahead as planned from Wednesday.
Bristol City Council has already drafted in replacement workers from the South East who will continue with collections in the city.
Some streets in Bristol have not had their wheelie bins emptied for a month.
Binmen are fighting for a pay rise from their employer French company Sita.
The company has offered a 2.75 per cent wage rise but the workers want more, citing Sita's profit of £17million for the year ending 2007.
More than 100 refuse collectors and admin staff have been drafted in from the South East to empty wheelie bins and collect food waste but this is about half of the number of Bristol binmen going on strike.
Bristol city councillor Gary Hopkins, executive member for the environment, said Sita had agreed to arbitration on Wednesday last week but Unite members narrowly rejected the offer.
He said: "Outside staff have been drafted in by Sita and a number of local workers who don't want to be on strike have returned to work.
"There has been involvement by the police at a depot in Hartcliffe. Things were thrown at people and threats were made. Clearly that's not a good situation.
"I understand that about 40 per cent voted to go back to work and accept arbitration but I don't know in what terms it was put to them and the way things are presented can be quite influential."
Councillor Hopkins was meeting senior managers from Sita, council and trade union officials yesterday afternoon to discuss the dispute.
Sita workers have held five one-day strikes since May 22 in the row over pay and the offer of a 2.75 per cent increase.
They say they should get a pay rise above 2.75 per cent, owed to them from November when inflation was about 4.5 per cent and cost of living was much higher.
But Sita management says 2.75 per cent is a fair offer in the current economic climate.
Councillor Hopkins said bins were being emptied and urged residents to leave their bins out on the usual day.
If a collection was not made bins should be left out for emptying the next day.
For more information on refuse collection dates, click here, or call 0117 922 2100.
Comments
by christoph3
Thursday, September 15 2011, 11:19AM
“wow”
by test16041
Tuesday, June 21 2011, 9:26AM
“'KING HAROLD ARROW IN EYE SHOCK HORROR' - William of Normandy to be king. Bristolians baffled.”
by jimwormold
Tuesday, June 21 2011, 9:17AM
“As they say "New news is good news".”
by mylin
Tuesday, June 21 2011, 7:01AM
“Has anyone else picked up that this is OLD news from 2009?!!!
Congrats BEP on your new website. It's confusing the hell out of everyone.”
by Concern_ed
Monday, June 20 2011, 10:54PM
“So-called councillor "Hopkins" should get out there and empty some bins himself, I say. I have left messages to this effect with numerous council departments, but have only had one reply (from Patchway Library, politely pointing out that they are both a library, and under the jurisdiction of South Gloucestershire council.)”
by Concern_ed
Monday, June 20 2011, 10:45PM
“Not again! I remain concerned.”
by R, Fishponds
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 8:27AM
“Lets hope the situation gets sorted today.
And for the majority of you, me included, who are against the strike and think the binmen are being ridiculous in their demands, if you really want to show your disgust and disappointment at their actions, when it comes to Christmas-time, don't dish out the usual festive tip. They'll soon see the extent of the lack of support for this move when they don't take home their "Christmas Bonus"”
by Mark 1, Bristol
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 6:12AM
“Well said David!
I also dispair looking at the amount of people that seem to be taking great delight at the fact that there is this "supply and demand" with desperate workers willing to do the same job for less money. This is not something to relish, it is actually scary and we need the unions and workers to stand firm and protect the conditions and fair pay in a time when the average worker is very much open to exploitation.
I support the binmen who are striking for a fair deal. However, I do not support the binmen who are intimidating their colleagues that wish a return to work.”
by Bobby, Bristol
Monday, June 08 2009, 11:37PM
“David- you are a union's dream. I think you should work for them- UNITE need your sort to provide workers with incorrect info and propaganda.
I love 'look around it is business as usual'. Hmm that is why companies (small and big) are reducing staff, freezing pay and making cuts isn't it. Business is not as usual- consumer spending is mostly down.
Of course it is the employers function to try and pay as little as possible. Just like the unions job is to get the best deal. But at the moment there is more supply for jobs than demand which puts employers in a strong position- something you seem to have missed in your anaylsis.
This means you have to compromise which SITA have done and the binmen have not. SITA could have offered nothing at all and it would have been fair in my opinion. But they offered 2.75%.
Oh yeah and look at SITA books if you wish- they are a public document. They struggled big time last year and like all other companies need to cut costs to remain strong and in business.”
by Mark, Bristol
Monday, June 08 2009, 10:39PM
“David - people have commented many times on the books, things have taken a turn for the worst, especially Q4 '08.
Maybe you should go look at the books before blindly following these muppets.”