Council takes firm line with Unions in Bin Dispute

9.33.01pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 3rd Aug 2009

Lib Dem leaders are continuing to stand up for Edinburgh residents and businesses in the ongoing dispute over bin collections. Council Leader, Cllr Jenny Dawe has made it clear that the Council are open to discussions with unions at any time over the package of reforms to pay and conditions but only where it would improve the service and bring it into line with equal pay requirements.

Council Managers, backed by Lib Dem and SNP Councillors, have also made offers to bring unions to the negotiating table including a three year 'pay protection' agreement, matching current levels of basic pay for the majority of staff and outside arbitration. However unions continue to show a disregard for the welfare of the public and Edinburgh's reputation by refusing to call off the action to and use agreed negotiation procedures.

The Council has now brought in outside contractors to provide part of the service on a temporary basis which will also free up resources to concentrate on residential areas. However, despite problems with rubbish becoming acute in parts of the city Labour councillors would not support this approach when it was raised at Committee.

Lib Dem Transport and Environment Convenor, Cllr Gordon Mackenzie, said, "True to form the Labour group on Edinburgh Council have caved in to pressure from the unions. This happened time and again when Refuse staff threatened Labour in the past. No wonder some staff think they just have to threaten a strike to get what they want and no wonder we still have outdated ways of working in this service, but we wont let that happen this time."

He added, "Union proposals would add £60m to the Council's wage bill at a time when an increasing number of people have no job at all and threatening vital services across the city. We must get a better service for residents, businesses and visitors, based on Equal pay for men and women, at a cost the City can afford."