The industrial action will take take place on 14-17 November and will see residual waste collections, as well as the recycling bins, garden waste and trade waste all disrupted.
According to a statement from the GMB Union, refuse workers were “given warnings for supporting a lost, elderly, distressed woman living with dementia and for carrying a wheely bin back up steep front steps for a disabled resident”.
The GMB claimed that more than 80% of the workforce are, or have just been on, a formal warning.
However, these claims were challenged by the council (see full statement below).
The GMB Union said a ballot for strike action saw a 100% majority from crews in favour of strike action, “in anger after years of inaction from the council to tackle a well known toxic work atmosphere”.
Mark Wilson, GMB organiser, said: “The way these lads have been treated by South Tyneside council is a disgrace. To get a warning for showing common decency by helping elderly and disabled people is sickening. The time has come to say enough is enough, the bullying tactics have to be put in the bin. After years of promising and failing to tackle the toxic culture in the yard we have had no choice but to take strike action.
“GMB will not stand by and let a Labour council bully our members. It’s time cllr Dixon and all our councillors stand up and for working people in South Shields.”
Dispute
The statement from the union was challenged by South Tyneside council.
A spokesperson outlined: “Firstly, we know our people are our strongest asset, and our waste services operatives are valued members of the council’s workforce serving on the frontline, supporting 72,000 households, and emptying 6.5 million bins every year. The planned industrial action does not relate to disciplinary action. As is stated in the GMB ballot, union members ‘wish to affect a change in Operational Management.'”
The spokesperson added that the claims made by the GMB in their statement “are not ones that we recognise as a council”.
“GMB suggest 80% of the workforce have received a formal warning recently. In 2023 the current figure is that four members from a team of 63 have received a formal warning amounting to 6.3%. All matters raised by waste operatives are being considered by the independent investigator. The outcome of the investigation is expected shortly. The council would dispute the claims relating to vulnerable or elderly residents. No disciplinary action has been taken in relation to this, as has been suggested by the GMB,” the spokesperson added.
They continued that the ongoing independent investigation is “aligned to the council’s resolving issues at work policy and we await its conclusion in the coming weeks”. GMB and Unite Unions have chosen not to wait for the outcome of this independent investigation before pressing ahead with industrial action, they added.
The Council said it “remains committed to resolving matters through ongoing dialogue and is looking ahead to planned ACAS conciliation as agreed with the Trade Unions”.
Advice
South Tyneside, which runs an in-house service, has advised residents not to put out their bins during this time.
The local authority explained that the dispute relates to “operational issues raised earlier this year”.
An independent investigation which was commissioned in September is underway, South Tyneside said.
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