Brighton and Hove binmen in wildcat strike (From The Argus)

Brighton and Hove binmen in wildcat strike

9:22am Wednesday 13th February 2008 in

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Binmen launched a wildcat strike in protest at council managers' "bullying tactics".

About 200 workers from Brighton and Hove City Council refuse and recycling collection crews joined the protest at their base in Hollingdean Road, Brighton.

They say Cityclean managers have broken up tight-knit crews who have worked together for years in retaliation for falling productivity.

The workers say staff shortages are causing crews to fall behind on their rounds.

Four men have reportedly been moved from one lorry to another as management try to address the problem.

But staff say the teams cannot do their jobs properly because agencies used by Cityclean have not supplied enough workers.

This morning's 6am rounds were carried out as normal.

But the second shift, due to begin working at 6.50am, refused to go to out.

One striker said: "The workers are fed up with management bullying tactics.

"We have asked the management to sit down and speak to union representatives.

"We are looking for a change of management approach to the workers."

The rounds are organised into crews of either three or five.

The worker, who did not wish to be named, said: "It becomes like a family unit.

"They are picking an individual off the crews and moving them.

"When a new man comes on it takes them time to get to know it."

Managers are expected to speak to representatives from the GMB union in the next few hours.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "We are trying to resolve it as quickly as possible to minimise disruption so the crews can get back out there doing a great job."

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