Missed bin collections across Edinburgh have been blamed on a group of rogue waste collectors who are taking industrial action, as council bosses warn staff against refusing kerbside collections or working overtime.
An increasing number of overflowing bins have been reported in recent weeks due to delays in waste services in the capital.
Yesterday, the local authority suspended all blue box glass collections for a week to prioritize collection of household waste and recycling.
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A union claimed the disruptions were due to workers having to start their morning runs an hour later after recent complaints about the noise of glass stacks from the controversial ‘new bins’ installed outside the flats.
And Unite’s City of Edinburgh Council branch disputed claims litter pickers were involved in feral cat ‘work to rule’ action.
But it warned that growing discontent among its members could make “bin kicking two” – a repeat of litter piling up on the capital’s streets during summer festivals, as it did in 2022 – even more likely after the union prepare to vote thousands of members. across Scotland amid a pay dispute.
The latest lost collections are understood to have come about as a result of the actions of “a relatively small group of staff”.
A source said the unions “have made it clear that this is not sanctioned by them” and added that managers are “dealing with these performance and conduct issues to ensure that the service returns to normal as soon as possible”. possible”.
In a letter first seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council’s head of environmental services in the neighborhood, Andy Williams, said there had been “suggestions and/or comments recently from a small number of staff that the roads will not be completed , side waste will not be collected and a refusal to work overtime where offered.
“These actions could be considered short of a strike and potentially a breach of your contract. This could have very serious implications.”
Williams, who sent the letter to workers at the city’s Seafield depot last week, said he was also “led to believe that some staff have shown a willingness to work overtime but are being bullied and intimidated into not doing so this”.
He said ‘task and finish’ – where waste collectors are shut down after completing their assigned routes – was “directed to end many years ago and consistent messages have been given that all staff are expected to work their full contractual hours “.
He added: “Staff are asked to collect only one bin at a time and only cross a road where it is safe to do so.”
The decision to decommission and end contracts, which means staff now have to return to depots to leave work, whereas previously they could be left closer to their homes after collections were completed, has contributed to staff anger at the lack of flexibility from waste bosses. understood.
Graeme Smith, convener of Unite’s City of Edinburgh Council branch, said: “One of the reasons many of the routes are delayed is that the routes are starting an hour later, this is a result of the number of noise complaints the council has. pick-up and lots of problems around glass collection early in the morning.”
He said this was “the justification being given by managers for holding the keys and starting the roads later”.
Unite, Scotland’s biggest trade union, today announced it will poll thousands of its members across the country next month over a pay dispute with local government umbrella organization Cosla. If workers vote yes, then industrial action “could start from July with major events potentially affecting the summer, including the Edinburgh International and fringe festivals,” the union said.
Smith said, “We’re looking at the second point of the basket.
“Unhappiness within [Edinburgh] the workforce will simply create more passion when it comes to industrial action over pay.
“Everything that’s happening is localized, but we’ve had more opportunities to talk to people and people are now unhappy because of the way they’ve been treated. It works for us because it means when they get the voting by the door they are I’ll check the box and send it.”