“Shonegar, you make some absolutely spot on responses, I did like your reference to this point about earning in relation to SITA's ability to pay, because you are bang on that it doesn't and wouldn't work the other way when they come to re-negotiate a recession based real terms cut in the contract. These guys would still want their full pay.

I didn't know that about nurses; I have first hand experience of Bristol's nurses looking after my old man in intensive care, and you could not encounter a more professional, more dedicated, and harder working bunch of people. You could never pay them enough, but who knows what would happen if they ever striked. Thankfuly SOME people have some sense of bloody perspective and responsibility!”

“It is worth noting that for 2008/09 nurses only got a pay rise of 2.75% (which is what the binmen are being offered) and many nurses have a lower wage than binmen. Nurses will only get a total of 8% over three years yet the binmen seem to believe they deserve 5% in just one year. Given the job nurses do, the studying they have to have, etc,etc, they are far more deserving than the binmen. Given the current economic climate the binmen should be grateful they are employed at all.

I also noticed a rather facetious argument from the binmen the other day that their pay should be linked to the companies ability to pay. Does this mean that when the company is performing less well that they will take a pay cut?

They do not seem to be taking into account that the flow of money from the council is very unlikely to continue at the current rate. As economic realities hit the council they will be forced to renegotiate contracts with their suppliers and this will mean downwards. It could well lead to others being given the opportunity to tender then the current binmen could well be out of a job.

Although I do not always agree with the behaviour of larger companies, in this case SITA making savings against the future and giving workers and approrpaite (and to most people generous) settlement and putting aside funds for the rainy days which we know are on the horizon is an excellent idea and will ensure that these ungrateful binmen remain employed during the funding cuts which are almost guaranteed over the next couple of years.”

“I do like the way that these people are defended, sentences like 'they do a hard job in all weather' or 'the stuff they have to deal with' etc etc.
I know a few friends that have been recently made reduntant that would jump at the chance to earn the money these employees are on.
Get back to work, accept Sitas offer and go for your payrise when the economy rises you slackers.”

“Lazy, ignorant and many other words describe these workshy fops.

I would hope that you are being docked money and the extra hours you need to put in to clear the rubbish are not paid at overtime rate.

Striking again on Monday when the Union is not due to talk to SITA until Tuesday, bully boy tactics by the union.
Muppets.

GET BACK TO WORK”

“paul your living in the dark ages they get a good weeks wages already and the council arent to blame this time as sita is a private company if anybody is to blame go back to the 80s and maggie thatcher for making the local councils privatise everything if anybody offerd me a job on the bins id do it no problem”

“Again the public suffer.

Sita workers protected from the effects of the recession as their main contract is with a public sector body and feel entitled to a pay increase.

This is their privilege.

They strike. This is their right.

No matter how out of step they are with ordinary people.

It is also the right of the people of Bristol to hold the council to account.

We pay for a service, too much in most peoples opinion.

We do not receive the service.

Either the council provide an alternative to SITA, the contract must have this clause negotiated on our behalf. If it does not then the person/s who negotiated the contract on the peoples behalf should be held accountable and if found neglient, sacked.

Equally what about a rebate of council tax back to the people.

This is no less than private sector companies would provide.

It is time for the public sector to be held truly accountable.”

“Rob,why is it that people like yourself always refer "to the Unions",the worker's are the Union,they attend meetings,and vote for,or against certain proposals,the worker's ( Union ) voted to withdrawer their labour in this case,and until you, I , or other's know the full facts behind the current dispute it would be best not to take side's,suffice to say that nobody takes strike action lightly,It is also well worth remembering that it was only due to unscrupolas employer's that the Trade Union movement came about.,can you imagine where the working population would be today if it were not for woker's organising themselves,we would still be doffing our caps to the boss,and living in squalor.”

“Are we council tax payers still paying Sita the full value of its contract now that company is no longer fulfilling it?

We know this dispute will be settled in the end.

Why can't both sides settle it sooner rather than later?”

“So the latest in this long line of pointless behaviour by the binmen is to protest at the council house. It smacks of desperation and ineptitude to me, what part of the commercial model between them and SITA do they not understand? Their pay has nothing to do with the council! Or has their argument with SITA failed so badly they're hoping for help from anywhere now?

I actually feel sorry for a lot of the binmen because they've been so badly advised by the agitators and unions on this action. By people who are only doing this to mask their own negotiating incompetence...

...And by that I mean since they keep dragging up this famous November date when pay talks opened as the reason they're deserving of pay at November rates, it should be pointed out that it takes two parties to reach an agreement and clearly these sames reps and spokespeople failed to find a compromise in November so they forfeited their opportunity to secure a pay deal at November rates and are as much to blame for the revised recession-based offer on the table as SITA are. At which point of course these same union reps and agitators want to whip up this action to hide their own failings. Very very sad.

On the basis not everyone has wheelybins, I had to climb over piles of black bags to get into my flat last night, which as you would imagine on a busy night, are now covered in urine, cans, bottles and takeaway food. This will go on all weekend, though likey with several bags kicked open to spread rubbish across the pavement as well for good measure. But I suppose if they hadn't had their strike on Friday and Monday they'd have missed the best of the weather and the chance of a long weekend.

Pathetic.”

“Good on you guys! don't let the corporation use there bully boy tactics on you. I'm happy for my bin not to be emptief until you have secured your demands. You do a job most wouldnt want to do, rain or shine, GOOD ON YOU.

The council bods are to blame for this to, not just Sita. Both have abused their positions for far to long. Fight the power.”