Bin men on strike
BIN men are set to strike tomorrow after talks with the council over pay broke down.
The GMB Union has formally advised West Lothian Council that a day of industrial action where no bin collections will be made will go ahead and will be followed by an indefinite work to rule.
Loaders and HGV drivers are unhappy over new terms in their contracts which will see them lose between an average of 2,800 and 3,000 a year from their pay packets as part of the Single Status Agreement.
Union negotiators and council bosses are miles apart in discussions over new pay conditions as workers want a three-year payment protection clause in their contracts, whereas the council wants to bring the new terms on 1 October this year.
A three-year payment protection deal would mean that wages would remain the same for a three-year period before the changes took effect.
Tom Carr-Pollock, GMB's secretary of the West Lothian branch, said: "Our workers will be losing around 2,800 a year and will be paid less than they were ten years ago as a result.
"The council say it is down to equal pay agreements, which workers were basically forced to sign three years ago.
"We want our workers' pay to be protected for three years to get them used to the lower rate, but the council said no.
"We were hopeful this could be resolved through further discussions, and industrial action is a last resort for us, but it is one we feel is necessary to protect our members."
Leader of West Lothian Council Labour Group, John McGinty, believes the ruling administration has to intervene to sort out the mess.
He said: "This strike could have been avoided and is down to the failure of West Lothian Council to respond to the suggestions put to them by the unions.
"The ruling SNP/Tory/Action to Save St John's administration cannot stand by on the sidelines and need to get involved to sort out this issue."
Council leader Peter Johnston said he was "bitterly disappointed" the strike had been called.
He added: "It is all too easy for Labour councillors to carp from the sidelines, but the fact is that West Lothian Council has done everything possible to resolve the equal pay issues which are making these salary reductions inevitable, and has carefully considered and responded to every suggestion to resolve matters."
A spokesman for the council said: "The industrial action is related to the council's introduction of an equal pay structure in October 2007.
"Following a period of formal consultation with trade unions from December 2009 to February 2010 the council issued revised contracts to certain staff within Waste Services, Nets and Land Services and Road Services which offered pay protection until 30 September, 2010. The council has recently had dialogue with the trade union. We will continue to discuss the issues with the GMB Union."
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Weather for Bathgate
Sunday 05 February 2012
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Temperature: 1 C to 8 C
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