THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset Issue 792
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2nd August 2023
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South Glos bin strike suspended Industrial action affecting waste services in South
there was a second phase
Gloucestershire has been suspended following the latest
initially scheduled to run
negotiations between Suez and Unite the union.
from 26th June to Sunday
Unite regional officer Ken Fish said on Friday: “As an act of
9th July, but a couple of
goodwill our members have agreed to suspend strike action
days into that strike it was
while they are balloted on the new offer.”
announced that it would
However, if the offer is rejected, strike action was due to
be extended to last every
begin again tomorrow (Thursday).
day until 3rd September.
Around 150 members of Unite have been in dispute with
With a pay offer now
their employer over pay levels. Suez is responsible for
being recommended by
waste and recycling services in the district on behalf of the
the union to members,
local authority. The bin loaders earn £11.53 per hour and say
kerbside
they have not had a wage rise in line with inflation for 21
resumed on Monday, with
years.
residents advised to put
They took strike action from 12th June until 18th June and
their waste and recycling, including green bins, out on their
as soon possible to end the significant disruption being
usual collection day.
caused to our residents. We are pleased that Unite are
Lorry driver charged
With more than half the workforce on strike in recent weeks,
recommending that their members who work for Suez should
black bin collections have been prioritised and residents have
accept this latest pay offer.
A man in his 50s has now been charged with dangerous driving following the incident in Willsbridge last December in which a lorry collided with the bridge over the A431 Bath Road by Bitton Station. As we reported at the time, multiple vehicles, trees, fencing, street lighting and telephone lines were also damaged on 6th December before the lorry came to a halt in Oldland Common High Street. The man is due to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 22nd August.
been able to take recycling and food waste to collection
“We have been doing all we can to minimise the impact of
points including Lyde Green Park & Ride and Cleve Rugby
the disruption by working with Suez and the staff they have
Club. There have also been recycling only bins at The Batch
available to provide the best level of service possible in the
in Cadbury Heath and at Warmley Community Centre.
circumstances.
There have been long queues at council Sort It recycling
“We wholeheartedly thank our residents for their patience and
centres and the strike action closed the one at Little Stoke,
the ongoing effort they have been putting into recycling and
which reopened on Monday.
continuing to help the environment over the past weeks.”
South Gloucestershire Council’s co-leaders Cllr Claire Young
The council says that green bin subscriptions will be
and Cllr Ian Boulton said: “We have been clear from the start
automatically extended to cover the weeks lost to strike
that a resolution needs to be found between Suez and Unite
action.
Also in this week’s issue
Row over Keynsham playing fields . . . page 3
collections
Labour candidate for new Bristol North East seat is chosen . . . page 5
Council urged to sort out Staple Hill rat-runs after Ombudsman rap . . . page 6
Keynsham Park’s new footbridge finally opens . . . page 7