Unite the union today (27 March) has announced the scheduled days of industrial action at Angus council. Unite members by 92 per cent on a turnout of 87.2 per cent voted for strike action last week.

The dispute centres on Angus council imposing changes to the terms and conditions of 140 staff who work in Environmental Services. From April 2019, household waste will be collected from 06:00 until 22:00 which will mean that workers will be required to move to a day shift/back shift work pattern. Unite members have raised concerns about the dangers of operating the service safely and effectively, and the negative impact that these changes will have on work-life balance.

The strike action, which will include a ban on overtime and work to rule, will take place from April until late June 2019. The first days of industrial action will take place from 00:01 hours on 8 April 2019 concluding at 23:59 hours on 12th April 2019. A series of 48 hour stoppages will commence at 00:01 hours on:

• 15, 22, 29 April 2019
• 6, 13, 20, 27 May 2019
• 3, 10, 17, 24 June 2019

George Ramsay, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “Following the emphatic result in support of industrial action, Unite has now set our dates for industrial action which will also include a continuous ban on overtime. Angus council is fully to blame for this imminent disruption to service. We firmly believe that these proposed changes will ultimately result in a poorer service for the public, and greater pressures on the workforce. We are confident that the public will understand and support the reasons for our members taking this action, but it can be avoided if Angus council meaningfully re-engages with us to resolve this dispute.”

ENDS

For more information contact George Ramsay on 07880037980.

Notes to editor:

Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members. The union is led in Scotland by Pat Rafferty.