Islington Tribune - News: ‘APPALLED’ BINMEN SET TO STRIKE

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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 14 March 2008

‘APPALLED’ BINMEN SET TO STRIKE

Threat of walkout as union slams contractor on pay and conditions

A NEW rubbish collection strike is looming in Islington after talks broke down between unions and bosses over pay and so-called “shoddy” working practices.
The GMB union have called a meeting for Monday at the same time as the new cleansing contractor ICSL Enterprise, who took over Islington’s collections last September, are to hold a “branding” ceremony to launch new uniforms and company logos.
Union officials are “appalled” that the company are to issue new green uniforms to the staff – the third colour change since 1998 – at a time when they claim conditions and pay are so poor.
GMB union branch secretary Gary Doolan, who is also an Islington St Peter’s ward Labour councillor, said: “We had burgundy uniforms until 1998. Then it was blue. Now it’s green. One more colour and we’ll have the rainbow. But a new set of clothes and a coat of paint won’t make it a better service.”
He accused the company of employing up to 60 agency staff – about 30 per cent of the workforce – in order to pay them the basic minimum wage of £170 a week.
Mr Doolan added: “Instead of worrying about their image the company should be paying staff a decent salary.”
Monday’s union meeting at 10.30am outside the Hornsey Street, Holloway, depot – where inside the branding event with various dignitaries will take place – will be to discuss dispute strategy.
Mr Doolan said: “It’s for the members to decide, but we could be heading towards strike action.
“Until management get it in their heads that they can’t keep treating staff with such disregard this action will continue.”
A union campaign – highlighted in the Tribune – claimed that the new company have done little to improve a legacy of alleged poor safety in the workplace.
The union estimates that between 60 and 100 workers are injured in Islington every year owing to lack of training for the job. The problem, according to the GMB, is an increasing workload and lack of experience in handling new technology.
Mr Doolan claimed that “management bullying” was another problem for the workforce.
One of the current issues is that dustmen are expected to collect rubbish from basements.
The union claims that having to lift bins up flights of stairs, particularly in bad weather, can cause serious back problems. It also alleges that agency staff are told to deal with contaminated waste – despite lack of training.
Executive member for the environment Lib Dem Councillor Lucy Watt said that a strike would pose potential health and hygiene dangers to residents.
She added: “All I would say is that our main objective is to provide our residents a good refuse and street-cleaning service and making sure our staff are motivated to deliver that.
“Since Enterprise has taken over ICSL we’ve been working with them to look at how they can improve the level of cleaning and waste collection. I hope Enterprise are working with the unions to make sure they come along with any changes that have to be made.”
Cllr Watt added that she wasn’t aware of the individual claims, particularly over safety, being made by the union but if true would need to be investigated.
“It goes without saying we don’t want staff to work in poor conditions,” she said.
A spokesman for ICSL Enterprise said: “We are working very closely with the employees and the council to resolve the concerns and ensure that services are maintained at a high level.”

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