Job loss fears “hugely premature”, says Manchester WDA

Friday saw members of the UK's general workers' union GMB demonstrating at a Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority meeting at Oldham Civic Centre, in an attempt to safeguard up to 1,000 jobs.

” It's far too early to be speculating about whether there will be an expansion or reduction of staff. “
– Tim Judson, GMWDA
Fears over the job cuts come because of the Authority's plans to put council waste services out into the private sector in a multi-billion pound Private Finance Initiative contract starting in 2008. Waste firms Onyx, Shanks, SITA, WRG and Viridor have been shortlisted for the contract. (see letsrecycle.com story).

Current plans are for the winning waste management company to either acquire the Authority-owned waste firm Greater Manchester Waste, or use it as a sub-contractor for the 25-year PFI contract.

The Authority's procurement director Tim Judson told letsrecycle.com yesterday that expectations of job cuts were “hugely premature”. And, he said the PFI contract may even require more jobs, rather than job cuts.

Early
Mr Judson said: “It's far too early to be speculating about whether there will be an expansion or reduction of staff. Some of today's manufacturing processes need more staff, so we may end up even taking on more staff. At the moment it is an equal call and we understand that the workforce feels unsettled.”

Nevertheless, the GMB union, which is representing staff at GMW, has expressed its concerns over the future of the council-owned waste company.

Duncan Edwards, who organised Friday's protest on behalf of the GMB, said: “Our members do not feel the Authority has done enough to protect their jobs and their futures.

Futures
“They perceive the authority should be doing more than it has to involve the company in developing the strategic approach and should be saying clearly that our members' futures are secure,” Mr Edwards said.

Councillor Neil Swannick, GMWDA chairman, was one of the councillors leafleted by the protest group. He said: “One of our biggest assets is the work force of GMW and its future is uppermost in our minds when deciding the future PFI waste contract.”

The Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority is responsible for waste disposal services in the boroughs of Bolton, Bury, Manchester City, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford.