Fears for Offaly bin collections as workers back strike action

SIPTU members employed by Bord na Móna Recycling have voted overwhelmingly for strike action.

The ballot followed a deal where Bord na Mona agreed to sell its recycling arm to a Kerry company, KWD, a move which the trade union SIPTU says is “privatisation”.

SIPTU said Bord na Mona Recycling is the country’s last publicly owned domestic waste collection service and the dispute is over the protection of workers’ terms and conditions of employment, which are threatened by a proposed privatisation.

SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: “The ballot for strike action was carried overwhelmingly by 95% to 5%. Our members are clear in their aim of protecting the last remaining publicly owned domestic waste collection service which is the industry leader in terms of environmental responsibility, health and safety standards and workers’ rights.

“The attempt to sell off Bord na Móna Recycling was done behind the backs of its workers. It is a bad deal for them, the country and the future of waste collection in Ireland. It also raises serious questions concerning the future of the semi-state sector in Ireland. Bord na Móna as an enterprise drove the economic development of the midlands for generations, it was meant to be central to a so-called ‘just transition’ for workers into a new greener economy.”

Mr Kane added: “Rather than protect the State’s involvement as a driving force in economic development and change, Bord na Móna as a company has been asset stripped. We need a forward facing domestic waste collection sector which places environmental concerns at its centre, not one driven purely by profit, which will result in the longer term in increased costs for customers, mounting environmental damage and removes the State from a key economic sector.”

SIPTU said the ballot was conducted in Bord na Móna Recycling depots in counties Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Louth, Offaly, Meath, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.

Responding to queries from the Tribune, a Bord na Móna spokesperson said the company had engaged directly with SIPTU regarding its decision to sell Bord na Móna Recycling to KWD Recycling.

“If approved, the sale will enable the recycling business to achieve the scale and efficiency required for sustained growth, profitability and employment,” a statement said.

“As communicated to SIPTU and its members, all employees will continue to work for the recycling business with no change to their contractual terms and conditions of employment on handover to KWD Recycling if regulatory approval of the sale is secured.

“The decision by SIPTU members to take strike action comes despite this confirmed continuity of employment and contractual terms, and without exhausting other agreed industrial relations resolution procedures.

“Bord na Móna will continue to engage with its employees and SIPTU and is committed to reaching a resolution.

“Bord na Móna will endeavour to keep any disruption to waste collection services arising from the industrial action to a minimum, and our customer service channels are available as usual to support customers.”

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https://www.ireland-live.ie/news/offaly-live/1734743/strike-action-ballot-planned-at-offaly-recycling-and-waste-company.html

Cllr Aoife Masterson, Sinn Fein representative for the Tullamore Electoral Area, described the proposed sale of Bord na Mona Recycling as “further entrenchment of the privatisation of our waste management system”.

“This open market approach to what is an essential service has led to soaring prices - just last month we learned that bin charges were due for yet another price hike. These prices go way above the rate of inflation. For example, the recycling per-life charge is going up by 25 percent – 18 times the rate of inflation,” Cllr Masterson said.

“Meanwhile, the scourge of illegal dumping continues to plague communities across Offaly.

“All over Europe, there has been a move to bring the bins back under public control whereby local authorities take responsibility. Ireland must follow suit.

“We cannot allow essential services like waste management to be left to the open market.

“The sale of Bord na Móna’s recycling division threatens jobs, undermines service quality, and risks further price hikes for consumers.

“We need local authorities to take back control of waste management to ensure affordability, accountability, and local employment.”