Threat of bin strike after suspensions
BIN workers in Huddersfield have threatened to go on strike again.
It follows the suspension of six bin workers employed by Kirklees Council in what has been described as “an act of revenge” for last year’s industrial action.
News of the suspensions appeared in a bulletin released by Kirklees Unison.
Neither union bosses nor the council have disclosed why the men - including a Unison steward - have been suspended. However all the suspensions are said to relate to separate incidents.
Both sides have met with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) in an attempt to stave off a new strike.
A further meeting is scheduled for October 14.
Senior councillor Rob Walker said the six workers had been accused of “serious offences”.
Last year bin workers based at Huddersfield’s Vine Street depot voted for all-out indefinite industrial action in a row over working patterns, holiday entitlement and claims of harassment, bullying and racism.
A strike would have affected tens of thousands of bin collections across South Kirklees.
Paul Holmes, Kirklees branch secretary for Unison, confirmed that some bin workers had once again been suspended but that he was not in a position to comment further.
There is growing frustration among bin workers over the suspensions as well as the non-release of a report by the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) on bin operations in the borough. That report is now 18 months overdue.
At a meeting of Unison members in September, bin workers voted unanimously for a further strike ballot unless their six suspended colleagues - who all went on strike last year - returned to work.
They also requested that the APSE report be presented to workers.
The Unison bulletin referred to the suspensions as “an act of revenge for last year’s strike” and said an agreement reached with management had “not been adhered to”.
One binman, who asked to remain anonymous, referred to the standoff with management as “an unresolved conflict” and that the six suspensions amounted to “payback”.
Clr Walker, the council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Environment, said: “We expect the highest standards from all of our employees and we only suspend people when they’re accused of serious offences and these cases definitely fall into that category.
“We are taking this very seriously and are conducting an investigation into each case.
“We cannot go into any further detail whilst the investigations are ongoing.