Gritters set to start the new year on strike
COUNCIL gritters are starting the new year on strike.
Gritters in Carmarthenshire County Council’s highways department have announced dates of industrial action in January.
They will first go on strike on January 6 and 7, again between January 17 and 21, and between January 24 and 28.
The GMB union warned the action could bring roads across the county to a standstill with a shortage of HGV drivers.
Last month around 70 gritters in GMB, Unison and Unite unions overwhelmingly voted for industrial action early in the new year.
The dispute follows on from action taken two years ago that saw the introduction of the comprehensive collective agreement between the union and the authority.
Peter Hill, GMB regional organiser, said: “Due to the intransigence of Carmarthenshire Council our members now have no other option than to take action.
“It’s not something we take lightly, but until they come back to the table we will continue.
“It’s a disgrace that a local authority refuses to follow a signed agreement and then breaks off talks meant to resolve the problems.
“No other local authority in Wales behaves in this way.”
Mark Evans, Unison branch secretary, said: “Despite what the council say they are not negotiating. If they are not willing to come back then they will have a fight.
“It costs nothing to follow the agreement. Why would they risk strike action which will cost taxpayers a lot of money when they could settle it easily?”
Responding to the claims, Cllr Hazel Evans, the council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “We reject comments made by GMB regarding the agreement; our staff are being paid the rates for duties as set out in the collective agreement.
“We are continuing our conversations with trade unions and our staff on this issue, and whilst we wish to avoid industrial action, we have contingency measures in place to ensure the safety of the travelling public in the event of action taking place.”