Get ready for Bristol binmen strike
Rubbish collections in Bristol are set to be disrupted tomorrow as binmen and street cleaners hold a 24-hour strike over pay.
About 250 Sita workers who belong to the trade union Unite have voted to take action after rejecting a pay offer of 2.75 per cent over two years.
Another stoppage is planned on Tuesday and one will then be held every Friday and Monday until the dispute is settled.
Black box recycling collections and household waste centres are not affected by the proposed strike.
Unions last night blamed Sita for the strike.
Pam Jennings, a regional organiser with Unite, said: "It would never have come to this if it hadn't been for Sita's intransigence."
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by emmessar, knowle
Tuesday, May 26 2009, 11:10AM
“load of layabouts, long weekends for the foreseeable future and lots of overtime. Lets all give up our jobs and be bin men. They have it easy and want more money when the likes of us have to take pay cuts to keep our jobs.
If you don't like the contract leave and let hard workers have the job and by the way I hope it rains for the next long weekend they are having, may it be cold, thundery and horrible they will think again”
by Peter, Bristol
Thursday, May 21 2009, 10:41PM
“I blame the French. Sita is French company and wouldn't dare treat French workers in this way - they know strike action over there works! No doubt this isn't helped by the weaker pound meaning paying our workers costs more in Euros than it used to. Unfortunately, they seem to think they can make Bristol workers take the brunt. I hope our bin men show Mr Sarkozy and his model wife that we're made of sterner stuff.”
by joe, bristol
Thursday, May 21 2009, 9:07PM
“rob,bedminster.
do you realise that this is NOT a despute for a pay increase in todays climate but for a pay increase which was supposed to be settled in november 2008 when 'cost of living' was up around 4.75% !
this is not a increase for extra money ..just for the workers to be brought inline with 'cost of living' for that date..! not 6 months late..!!
sita is a french run company with massive overturns.! bristol council pay sita 'cost' plus 16% to have the contract of refuse collections...you see....... massive profits.
yet sita are saying no ... and they arnt even contributing to the rise..!! bristol council are paying..!! and sita want it locked at that till 2011..!! so not even then are the guys/girls gettin to be in line with cost of living !!
so if i were you before you start shouting the odds and screaming OH ITS EXTRA DAYS OFF OR A LONG WEEKEND..! ......... GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT..!!”
by Hugh Jass, Bristol
Thursday, May 21 2009, 5:36PM
“Appreciate you clearing that up Rob. Cheers.”
by Hugh Jass, Bristol
Thursday, May 21 2009, 5:35PM
“Appreciate you clearing that up Rob. Cheers.”