Waste collectors call off threat to strike (From Warrington Guardian)

Waste collectors call off threat to strike

WASTE collectors in Vale Royal have called off their threat to strike over Christmas after coming to an agreement with their employers.

The workers looked set to take industrial action after claiming that waste collection contractors SITA had reneged on an agreement to pay them bank holiday rates over the holiday period.

But Jim Cairns, the GMB union's Cheshire representative, said SITA had finally agreed to meet their demands despite the breakdown of talks earlier this month.

He said: "They've agreed to pay what we thought we had agreed back in April so we have called off our ballot for industrial action.

"Hopefully the matter has been resolved. As far as we are concerned, our members are quite happy because they are getting what they were promised, so they are happy to provide a service to the people of Vale Royal."

It means that weekly collections will take place this Christmas to help residents deal with the extra waste they generate.

A spokesman for SITA said the situation had been resolved amicably.

Vale Royal Borough Council is calling for residents to help the waste collectors this Christmas and go green.

It says they should be able to recycle more than half of the waste they produce by using the kerbside recycling scheme.

Although Christmas cards cannot be accepted, newspapers, magazines and Christmas catalogues can be recycled using the green paper recycling bags.

Additional recycling can be placed out for collection in carrier bags or alternative containers.

The council also wants to deal with the problem of Christmas trees early next year, which can create an extra 9,000 tonnes of rubbish.

Householders will be able to recycle their real trees in their brown bin after the 12th night.

A council spokesman said: "By using the new kerbside recycling scheme this Christmas, residents will have the opportunity to do their bit and make the dream of a 'green' Christmas a reality."

rbabington@guardiangrp.co.uk