Call to keep talks going in bid to avert bin strikes

PLAID Cymru councillors have demanded that Wrexham Council starts negotiating in good faith with unions representing bin workers, who have a mandate to take strike action.

- By ALEC DOYLE Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

Plaid Cymru councillor Marc Jones claims constructive talks were held between the council, waste service management and trade unions at a Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting on Wednesday.

The discussions centred around new Streetscene working patterns introduced by Wrexham Council, with bank holiday Monday bin collections changed to the Saturday following a bank holiday.

Unite claim this was done without consultation and means Saturday working is now compulsory.

The union also says employees will face disciplinary action if they do not attend - previously weekend overtime was voluntary.

The changes will also see Streetscene operatives lose half-a-day's pay every bank holiday, saving Wrexham Council an estimated £100,000.

Members of the Unite union from the Streetscene team balloted for strike action and around 100 workers will strike for several days from this Saturday. There will also be an overtime ban in place.