Sita refuse collectors set for more strike action
3rd June 2009
The pay dispute at Sita, which has already resulted in a series
of 24 hour strikes, will now lead to the indefinite ‘all out’
strike action of Bristol's refuse collectors beginning on 10th
June.
250 refuse members of Unite the union are angry about the
failure of Sita's management to offer them a fair pay deal.
Unite, the UK’s biggest union, believes that Sita, a company
responsible for providing refuse collection services to Bristol
city council, is using the recession as an excuse to cut workers’
pay by stalling as inflation falls.
Pam Jennings, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “The
company continues to refuse to engage properly with Unite, leaving
our members with no other choice than to take further indefinite
strike action.
“There is no doubt that Sita can afford to meet the reasonable
demands of staff as the council pays Sita costs plus 16 per
cent.
“We are willing to return to the negotiating table at a moment’s
notice. However, in the present situation the workforce has no
choice but to commence with the planned ‘all out’ strike action
beginning on Wednesday 10th June.”
Over 250 refuse collectors will be demonstrating on the College
Green outside Bristol city council house on Friday 5th June at
11am.
The union is taking all out industrial action after a series of
24 hour strikes did not bring Sita to the table with an offer
resolving a long-standing pay claim covering the 12 months between
November 2007 and November 2008, submitted by the union in October
2008.
ENDS
Contact: Mark Di-Toro in the Unite press office on: 07918 640
579
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