Strikes threatened as bin deal deadline looms
Thursday July 29 2010
UP to 360,000 households in the capital face the prospect of not having their bins collected next week because of a bitter industrial dispute.
The four Dublin local authorities have been given tomorrow as a deadline to agree to a trade union demand not to outsource their refuse collections, or face an all-out strike.
The dispute has arisen because of a decision by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to award its waste collection service to private operator Panda. But trade union SIPTU said the move was in breach of the Croke Park agreement not to outsource services.
Private operators are allowed to collect rubbish and dispose of it in any facility they choose.
SIPTU said local authorities must pay for waste facilities, such as landfills and recycling centres, and the private sector should be forced to pay a contribution toward these costs.
SIPTU organiser Paul Smyth said: "There are no restrictions on anyone entering the market and making a sales pitch for lucrative routes while either ignoring areas that are less accessible, or charging an extra premium to collect from them.
"Needless to say, none of these operators are interested in collecting from anyone on low incomes who cannot afford to pay."
- Paul Melia
Irish Independent
