The Scottish council has warned householders to expect disruption each day from 5.45am following a breakdown in talks with Unite the Union – with normal services expected to resume from 18 May.
Blue commingled recycling bins, brown garden waste bins and food waste caddies will not be emptied if scheduled for collection during the strike, though the authority is understood to have hired agency staff to collect green refuse bins ‘as far as possible’.
Residents have been advised to drop recyclables off at household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) at Ayr, Maybole, Troon and Girvan, which are operating as normal.
The strike follows a dispute over the hours which council collection crews are required to work – with the trade union arguing the local authority is attempting to impose a shift pattern at odds with its members’ original contract.
Under a deal signed in 2009, crews are obliged to work between the hours of 7am and 8pm – however it is now understood to have varied the contract to ensure collections are carried out up until 10pm.
Jim Winter, regional industrial organiser at Unite the Union, told letsrecycle.com that the timetable had been amended to reduce the use of vehicles and save the council around £375,000 per year.
He added that Unite members’ had expressed doubts over the safety of the new working arrangements, particularly during the winter months during heavy snowfall.
Mr Winter said: “The council could not reach a collective agreement so have imposed this on them. Both sides are now entrenched and we are asking the council to reconsider their position.”
Overtime
In addition to the upcoming strike, a ban on overtime and ‘work to rule’ continues to be imposed by the workers – which has been in effect since 31 March. Mr Winter said he would anticipate further industrial action if the council refuses to negotiate.
Councillor John McDowall, sustainability and environment portfolio holder for South Ayrshire council, said: “We recognise the disruption the strike action is causing and thank residents for their cooperation and patience. We will continue to use all available resources to limit inconvenience – unfortunately, it’s not possible to run a full service.
“We have been in discussions with Unite the Union regarding the strike and suggested proposals to address their concerns but these were rejected. We will, continue to do all we can to end the action and limit disruption to the people of South Ayrshire.”
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