Peace on Merseyside
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Liverpool binmen have agreed to return to "normal" working following Onyx UK winning the city's refuse collection cpntract from the council's direct service organisation (CM 20-26 June).
An agreement has been reached over shifting 12,000 tonnes of rubbish which has built up on seven emergency tips throughout the city during the binmen's work-to-rule.
Liverpool Council says the 415 binmen have been offered £300 each to clear the backlog over three Saturdays — but the TGWU insists the job will take twice as long.
"The rubbish has built up over five weeks," says TGWU regional road transport officer Jim Gouldbounne. "We have offered to clear it over three weekends, working Saturdays and Sundays."
The council binmen, including 100 drivers, lose their jobs at the end of July. Onyx has offered to interview the men for its workforce of 208.
But Gouldbourne says wages will be cut by E60 a week from an average of £260, and hours will increase from 35 to 40 per week. He believes Onyx will operate 32 vehicles compared with the present 40.
The TGWU will be talking to Onyx. "We had recognition on the council and we will want it again," says Gouldbourne.
John Basford, Onyx marketing director, says he is "happy" to talk to the TGWU, but will not negotiate wages. "We are a nonunion company," he says.
LI This week Onyx won two more local authority contracts. The London Borough of Camden's refuse and street cleaning operation is worth £4.35m a year. The workforce will be cut to 204 from 300 with fewer vehicles. And Cleethorpes Council on Humberside has awarded Onyx its £750,000 a year refuse collection contract.