Residents warned of month-long bin strike

UNITE members working for SITA UK across Doncaster, including those at the Denaby depot, will hold six day-long strikes on Fridays and Mondays and work to rule from tomorrow until October 15.

It follows the waste management company’s rejection of the union’s request for an average 13 per cent pay rise — which UNITE is believed to have said would bring Doncaster wages in line with those doing the same job elsewhere.

Residents in Denaby, Denaby Main, Mexborough, Old Denaby, Sprotbrough and Warmsworth will have no green bin collections until October 15. Black bin collections will continue as normal.

SITA UK general manager Nick Browning said: “In the current economic climate we cannot justify increasing the offer of 1.7 per cent that we have made nationally to all of our employees.

“Our staff in Doncaster already benefit from good terms and conditions following pay increases of 2.5 per cent in 2010 and 3 per cent in 2011. 

“We think the Union’s demand for more is unreasonable and it would be irresponsible for us to increase our offer.

“Our priority is to get back to providing a full waste and recycling collection service to the people of Doncaster as quickly as possible and we are doing what we can to resolve this situation.”

Green bin collections have been suspended to minimise disruptions to black bin collections. Household recycling centres will remain open as usual.

Residents are being asked to put their black bins out as usual. Where a bin isn’t emptied residents are asked to leave their bin out and SITA will empty it as soon as possible.

Green box collections for the majority will remain unaffected by the action. However, households which usually have collections on a Monday or a Friday will see this recycling service reduced to every other week until October 12.

Residents living in Denaby, Denaby Main, Mexborough, Old Denaby and Warmsworth, who usually have their collection on a Friday, should only put out their green box, blue bag and clear bag on September 28 and October 12.

Residents living in Sprotbrough, who usually have their collection on a Monday, should only put out their green box, blue bag and clear bag on October 1.

Clinical waste services and business waste will be unaffected.

The Weekender was unable to get a comment from UNITE but it is understood that union members had been willing to negotiate.

For more information visit www.doncaster.gov.uk/recycle or 01302 736000.