Health hazard warning over binmen dispute

Published on Thursday 23 July 2009 14:42

A DISPUTE involving council binmen could pose a growing health hazard, politicians warned today.

Both Conservative and Labour politicians voiced concerns about the impact of the dispute between refuse collectors and the City of Edinburgh Council.

Refuse collectors in the capital are already working-to-rule as a result of the row over plans to change the way they are paid, which it is claimed could see binmen's wages cut from 18,000 to around 12,000.

Rubbish collections in the city have been affected and the trade union Unite is in the process of balloting its members for industrial action.

Talks between the union and the council are taking place this afternoon.

And politicians said the matter must be sorted out quickly.

David McLetchie, the Conservative MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, said the dispute between the binmen and the council – which is run by an SNP and Liberal Democrat coalition – had turned the capital into a "rubbish tip".

He added: "At the height of the tourist season, it is an embarrassment and a growing health hazard."

Mr McLetchie said: "The council needs to get a grip. The binmen need to clear up the mess. If they won't, then we must bring in outside contractors to clean up the streets of Edinburgh."

The Tory continued: "The cost of Edinburgh's refuse collection is already one of the highest in Scotland. The Lib Dem/SNP council leaders need to tell the union that enough is enough. There is no more money.

"The city finances are already in a perilous state. We cannot pay this group more without risking equal pay claims from other council employees.

"If a deal cannot be struck, then maybe it is time to contract out the service so that our streets can be cleared, the rubbish collected and the public purse spared."

Mark Lazarowicz, the Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, is calling for the Scottish Government to intervene in a bid to resolve the dispute, and has written to Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

He said: "The problem with uncollected rubbish is now becoming extremely serious throughout the city, and is particularly severe in densely populated areas such as many in the area I represent.

"As well as the obvious environmental consequences, there are clearly growing and urgent public health concerns.

"The smell from bins which have not been emptied for some time now is increasingly noxious and there is an increased risk of vermin."

In his letter to the Health Secretary Mr Lazarowicz said the dispute had "potential public health consequences".

And he called on Ms Sturgeon to "intervene in this dispute and urge the city council to make strenuous efforts to reach agreement with the workforce so that the issue can be resolved".

Sarah Boyack, the Labour MSP for Edinburgh Central also said a solution to the row was needed urgently.

She said: "Apart from the unsightly mess which litter causes, the longer the dispute goes on, the greater the public health risk potential."