Bristol bin strikes back on as workers form picket

Bin strikes in Bristol are back on after talks between waste contractor Sita and union officials collapsed.

A strike planned for Friday morning was suspended when Sita management agreed to re-open negotiations with Unite, the union representing 271 Sita workers.

But at 1pm talks broke down and binmen, refuse drivers, loaders and street cleaners downed tools and formed a picket line at Sita's Hartcliffe Way depot.

Strikes are now expected to continue on Tuesday, meaning up to 35,000 households could be left with uncollected rubbish.

Wheelie bins and brown food waste boxes will be affected, and street rubbish will also be left out.

Binmen were protesting over an offer from Sita of a 2.75 per cent pay increase.

They say they should be given five per cent, a pay rise they were due in November when inflation was about 4.5 per cent and cost of living was much higher.

Unite officials blamed the failed talks on Sita being unwilling to compromise.

But Sita bosses said that the 2.75 per cent offer was reasonable.

Chris Cutler, general manager at Sita UK, said: "We are extremely disappointed that the talks failed to reach an agreement.

"We feel strongly that the 2.75 per cent increase is a fair offer in this current economic climate.

"SITA UK's staff in Bristol provide a vital public service and we hope that an agreement can be reached quickly to ensure the services to the residents of Bristol."

Mr Cutler also said that the 2.75 per cent offer was in line with a pay award that has been accepted by thousands of local government employees across the country.

He said: "Their compromise is still far in excess of anything else that is being demanded or accepted by others across the country."We are living in unprecedented times, and there isn't the money to pay for their demands."

Pam Jennings, Unite's regional industrial organiser, said they had dropped their request from five per cent to 4.5 per cent, then to 3.5 per cent and an inflationary rise plus one per cent for the following two years.

But Sita rejected all their offers.

Ms Jennings said: "We are extremely disappointed as we thought they were going to be meaningful negotiations.

"What Sita is asking of our members is that they take a 2.25 per cent pay drop but still retain a 16 per cent profit margin.

"At the time this deal should have been done, five per cent wasn't a pay increase, it would have been the status quo.

"This situation is only happening because Sita has dragged its heels and not given the pay increase it should have.

"These workmen have pride in the work they do. None of us want the public to suffer through this, and they needn't.

"All Sita need to do is sit in meaningful negotiations with us."

About 100 workers formed a picket line at the Hartcliffe depot at lunchtime yesterday, with more at the Sea Mills and Lewins Mead depots.

At Hartcliffe was Jim Moore, a driver team leader and binman for 21 years.

Mr Moore, 61, of St Anne's, said: "We all know the economy is bad, but this pay rise is for November, not this year.

"Sita has put us in this position so that the only way we can get a cost of living is to go on strike. They have forced our hand."

His colleague, Mark Mapstone, 44, of Lockleaze, said Sita had dragged its heels over pay rises for years.

He said:"We don't want to be in this dispute and it is not our intention to make problems for the public, but it is the only way we can get our point across."

Steve Moore, service director for environmental services at Bristol City Council, said: "We will be continuously reviewing the situation on Tuesday and over next week and doing everything we can to ensure Sita delivers the best possible service for our residents.

"We will also try to keep the people of Bristol informed."

For more information on refuse collection dates, log on to www.bristol.gov.uk, or call 0117 922 2100.