One hundred and eight refuse workers in Southampton have commenced industrial action this week (May 23) as part of a dispute with the city council over potential job losses and staff terms and conditions.
Led by unions Unite and Unison, workers from the councils refuse, care working, street cleansing, parking enforcement, building trades and a range of different services have opted to undertake targeted or selected strike action and action short of strike until Friday.
Household waste and recycling collections, including bulky waste collections, have been suspended, with the south coast council stating that it is unlikely for any collections to be carried out until Tuesday May 31. This is due to Monday May 30 being a Bank Holiday.
Workers in the other departments involved in the industrial action will take action short of strike, including working to rule, an overtime ban, no private car use to provide services and no mobile phone use as well as other actions.
The unions said the strike action will affect 4,300 council employees and claims the council intends to sack workers before reemploying on substantially lower terms in July.
However, the city council has said changes to staff terms and conditions are essential to avoid further job losses.
Response
Southampton has created a fact sheet for residents to help explain its side of the dispute and how the industrial action will impact waste and recycling collections, as well as offering tips on limiting waste over the next week.
A statement issued by the council said: Southampton city council is disappointed that unions have decided to take on-going industrial action. The trade unions, Unite and Unison, have asked union members to take industrial action due to a dispute over changes to staff terms and conditions.
The council believes that these changes are essential to avoid a further 400 job losses and to protect public services.
It apologised for the impact that the industrial action could have on residents and pledged to keep householders informed of any possible service disruption via its website.
And, the council has ruled out paying contractors or other staff to collect material in place of the striking refuse workers. It states: There are strict rules and legislation which dictates how councils can cover employees taking strike action.
Unions
Commenting on the strikes, Mark Wood, Unite convenor at Southampton city council, said: This action, along with the possibility of more planned strikes throughout the summer months, will cause major disruption but it does not have to be this way.
Furthermore, the trade unions hit out at Councillor Royston Smith, the Conservative leader of Southampton city council.
Mr Wood added: Unite and Unison have offered talks using the conciliation service Acas but rather than engaging in dialogue with the unions the council have been posturing in the local press. Council employees have been given no option but to take this action.
Workers this morning picketed the Albert Road depot, and will continue to do so during the week, as well as 1 Guildhall Square at the heart of the citys new Cultural Quarter.
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