Bin Collection Dispute Reaches LRC

Unions representing the bin collection agency attended talks at the Labour Relations Commission on Monday to try to resolve a long running dispute in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown over refuse collection.

One of the main unions representing the refuse collectors, Siptu, are currently threatening strike action, which could affect the upcoming Festival of World Culture and local authority services in the borough as well as south County Dublin, Fingal and Dublin city.

Siptu said it had served the strike notice on behalf of its members over plans by senior management to outsource bin collection to private company Panda. The action is due to begin on Thursday, 22nd July, the day before the Festival begins, and it's hoped today's talks can help avoid a strike.

Siptu Branch Organiser Ramon O'Reilly said: "The plan to bring in Panda is a breach of a Council commitment to work with SIPTU in not alone promoting direct labour but to promote the service and win back customers, in addition to the roll out of a brown bin collection service for organic waste.

"Experience throughout the country has shown that where waste collection is privatised, the cost to consumers rapidly increases after initial reductions and householders, who live in remote locations, or on unprofitable routes, are left to dispose of their own refuse. And, of course, private operators do not provide waivers on charges."

Mr O'Reilly added that staff learnt through a management press release in May that their jobs in the bin collection service were gone and the council was planning to redeploy them to other sections in the council.

The dispute's timing has proved very difficult for the region's Council, as Dun Laoghaire prepares for a carnival weekend to celebrate ten years of the Festival of World Culture. The festival will see more than 1000 musicians and artists, plus another 1,200 participants and volunteers descend on the seaside town to take part in over 200 live gigs, performances and events.

(DW/KMcA)