Binmen throughout Cardiff have been up in arms about a new food waste recycling scheme that may have the binmen working shifts until 10 pm. Council officials and union reps have been in negotiations over the change in the system but it does not seem to be going well. Residents fear that the confrontation could result in a strike, leaving refuse to collect on the streets.
“We don’t want to carry this dispute to the public so that it affects them,” said Mike Payne, Wales’ full-time official for the GMB union.
“But this type of macho-style management is not acceptable in this day and age, and if we have to resist it by industrial action or claims through tribunal, that’s what we will be doing.”
Cardiff Council executive member Mark Stephens states that he is “disappointed” over the union’s position but hopes an arrangement can be made between the two groups.
“As far as we are concerned the food waste recycling scheme begins on October 13. I am confident we can get a sensible compromise.”
No one objects to the food waste recycling scheme, per se. The issue comes in regarding work schedules. Because of the amount of food waste expected to be collected on a weekly basis, extra people will be needed to work. Therefore, the Council has insisted that the binmen change their work schedules, from 7 am-3p m to a two-shift system that would run 6 am-2 pm and 2 pm-10 pm.
The Council claims that the new two-shift system would save taxpayers over £217,000 a year, while keeping the old system would cost an additional £1.6m.
Source: South Wales Echo
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