Bosses urged to talk to union to end council strike

Unite members on strike for better pay and conditions

Plaid Cymru councillors have called for Wrexham Council to sit down and talk to strikers after a further five weeks of industrial action was announced by Unite.

Councillor Marc Jones, who leads the Plaid Cymru group on the council, said the current strike action had had a very visible impact in terms of bin collection and residents were understandably frustrated with the lack of information about when bins would be collected.

He said: "There are two issues behind the strike action - one is UK-wide pay negotiations that is not within the council's remit. But there are also local issues that are definitely something the council can sit down and start negotiating with the workers. 

"They include pay grades. Refuse collectors and other council staff are doing essential work and deserve to be paid fairly. I think most fair-minded people would see a problem with the same job being paid £1500 less in Wrexham than in neighbouring Flintshire. 

"Rather than let this dispute fester, it would be better to get round the table and start meaningful negotiations so it can be resolved before we see a further escalation. 

"As a group of nine Plaid Cymru councillors, we understand people's frustrations about missed bin collections and waste piling up on the streets. We're hearing from people every day who want to know what's going on and we're sharing as much information as we have. 

"We believe the best solution is better communication with residents and with the workers themselves to resolve this as quickly as possible. This has happened with other councils who are also involved in the UK-wide negotiations so there is no reason why meaningful negotiations can't start and the strikes are then suspended."

Cllr Jones said he had written to Wrexham Council's chief executive Ian Bancroft calling for the council leadership to address the matter (see below). This afternoon Unite announced a new round of strikes would start from 16 October and last until 24 November.

LETTER TO IAN BANCROFT, Chief Executive 

Dear Ian

The Unite strike is, as I understand it, related to two matters:

1. UK-wide pay negotiations that are outside the council's remit and 

2. Local issues that are within the council's remit.

Given that other councils have been able to negotiate regarding local issues and seen strikes suspended as a result, I would like to know what steps the council has taken to engage with the union directly regarding local issues. 

Do you have an estimated figure for the cost of resolving these local issues?

I'm also aware that overtime is now being paid for weekend working to clear the backlog of bins. What is the cost of this to date?

As I write this, further strike action has just been announced that makes my plea for negotiation around local issues all the more urgent.

Marc

Y Cynghorydd / Councillor Marc Jones

Plaid Cymru, Grosvenor

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam / Wrexham County Borough Council