South Gloucestershire Council co-leaders, Councillors Claire Young and Ian Boulton have welcomed news that industrial action affecting waste services in the district will be suspended following the latest negotiations between Suez and Unite the union.
Members of Unite in South Gloucestershire have been in dispute with their employer, Suez, over pay levels. Suez is responsible for waste and recycling services in the district on behalf of the local authority.
Today (28 July) it was announced Unite has suspended planned industrial action while it ballots its members on an improved pay offer from employer Suez, which is due to take place next week.
Kerbside collections will resume on Monday 31 July and residents are advised to put their waste and recycling out on their usual collection day.
Councillors Young and Boulton said: “We have been clear from the start that a resolution needs to be found between Suez and Unite as soon possible to end the significant disruption being caused to our residents. We are pleased that Unite are recommending that their members who work for Suez should accept this latest pay offer and hope that this signals a swift return to normal working for the benefit of everyone.
“We have been doing all we can to minimise the impact of the disruption by working with Suez and the staff they have available to provide the best level of service possible in the circumstances.
“We wholeheartedly thank our residents for their patience and the ongoing effort they have been putting into recycling and continuing to help the environment over the past weeks. Our residents have dealt with so much over the past weeks and we are pleased to let them know that kerbside collections will restart on Monday 31 July.”
An open letter was written by the council stressing how vital it is that Suez and Unite return to negotiations and urgently to resolve the issue. [http://sites.southglos.gov.uk/newsroom/community/open-letter-industrial-dispute-between-unite-the-union-and-suez]
For the latest information about disruption to waste services as a result of the industrial action please visit the council website: www.southglos.gov.uk/servicedisruption
