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Defiant: workers' picket outside the ICSL premises in Caldedonian Road on Tuesday |
Bin workers under fire over one-day walkout
Action is preventing better refuse collections, says Town Hall
STRIKE action by refuse collectors protesting at staff cuts has been called “indefensible” by a Town Hall chief.
Councillor Lucy Watt, Lib Dem executive member for environment, said GMB union members who work for the council’s rubbish and recycling contractor were “standing in the way” of improvements to the service.
The comments follow Tuesday’s one-day strike, which meant no rubbish was collected in Islington by the 36 ICSL Accord domestic refuse collection staff.
Workers formed picket lines outside the ICSL offices in Caledonian Road at 6am. They object to last week’s reduction in the number of refuse lorries from nine to eight, which they say has increased their workload and reduced the quality of the service to residents.
Gary Carter, London representative of the GMB, said: “There have been over 180 complaints since last week’s changes.
“Reducing the number of lorries from nine crews of four to eight crews of four means we are collecting the same amount of rubbish but are four men down. Residents are losing out.
“People have quickly realised these new rounds don’t work. They’ve created chaos. We don’t want a pay rise, we just want better conditions for the workers and a better service to residents.”
Staff are demanding that the four men be reinstated or the introduction of a productivity bonus. Two further strikes are planned for September 28 and October 1.
On Wednesday, union leaders also introduced a work-to-rule action.
The four men affected by the changes have been moved to another department within ICSL.
The council claims the new service, which was introduced on September 10, improves efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Cllr Watt said: “We’ve changed the way our residents get their recycling and rubbish collected in Islington, so residents can have all their green box recycling, kitchen waste, garden waste and rubbish collected on the same day.
“The new service is more convenient for residents, with fewer vehicles on the streets, fewer vehicle miles travelled and fewer vehicle emissions.”
The dispute could not be resolved during a meeting between union officials and ICSL on September 6.
Residents of Canonbury Road, the area affected by Tuesday’s strike, appeared to support the action.
One Canonbury Road resident, Richard Thompson, said: “Rubbish collection has always been a joke around here. What they’re doing is fair enough.
“I say good luck to them.”
Cllr Watt said the council was doing its best to maintain a normal service.
She added: “We will do everything within our power to keep disruption to a minimum and ensure residents’ rubbish is collected on time.”
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