Binmen hit out at move to bring in contractors
BINMEN in Glasgow are “furious” about the council’s decision to bring in contractors during the COP26 strikes, the GMB has revealed.
Private firms were drafted in earlier this week to conduct bin collections as staff from the local authority’s cleansing department have downed their tools in a fight for better pay.
The union argues the council is deploying independent contractors in an attempt to “break” the industrial action.But, it was earlier revealed that private firms would be used during the ongoing strikes due to “significant” fire risk on the approach to Bonfire Night.
After a meeting was held between council leader Susan Aitken and GMB representatives, the union asked the council to “clarify” the status of the contractors.
Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser, said: “Hopefully this morning’s discussions will have a better outcome than the previous meetings with council officials.
“The council leadership met directly with our workplace reps, listened to their proposals for the future of the service and the city, and we await a response.
“Glasgow’s workers are furious their employer is deploying independent contractors to try and break this action, it’s shameful this is happening in our city. That’s why we have asked the council to clarify the status of these contractors and to establish if they are asking businesses to commit an unlawful act by attempting to break this strike.”
The strike action has seen 970 binmen walk out in a pay dispute with COSLA – an umbrella body that represents Scottish councils.
The industrial action is expected to last until Monday.
The Glasgow Times approached Glasgow City Council for comment.