Bin men who didn't work during bad weather to get pay docked

A THIRD of Edinburgh's bin men are facing disciplinary action for walking off the job during bad weather as a new war of words breaks out between the city council and union leaders.

Around 130 staff will have their wages docked for refusing to work on 7 January because of "health and safety" reasons relating to the freezing temperatures.

It is understood that council bosses are treating the action as an unofficial strike and are docking one day's wages from each member involved in the action. It is the latest sign that relations between refuse staff, who are still on a work-to-rule after nearly six months, and council managers have reached a new low.

All council staff, including bin men, received letters on 6 January telling them that a formal 90-day consultation period had been launched on the council's "modernising pay" proposals.

If agreement cannot be reached during the period, the council is to force through its changes by asking staff to accept new terms or face dismissal.

It is thought that many staff who refused to work on 7 January had been angered by the letters.

The council's director of services for communities, Mark Turley, said: "Some staff who are very unhappy have definitely been messing us around. There are a number of disciplinary procedures ongoing."

In the run-up to Christmas, it had appeared that a resolution to the dispute was drawing near, with Mr Turley saying he had agreed with unions to "negotiate our proposals to a final conclusion" in January.

The trade union Unite had also agreed to put the proposals to members at the start of February, but so far this month no meetings have taken place to draw up a formal proposal. Union leaders and council directors are blaming each other for the stalemate.

Stephen MacGregor, convener for the Edinburgh branch of Unite, said: "Unite are very disappointed with the director of services for communities and the administration of the council.

"Publicly, they state they want to resolve the current dispute, but this is very difficult to believe when there is no appetite to meet with the unions.

"It would appear they are content with bringing in the private contractors to do the work in the hope that we 'blink first'."

Mr MacGregor has told members that it is "vital" that the industrial action continues, and he plans to request a meeting with council leader Jenny Dawe to discuss concerns about the process.

However, Mr Turley said that the comments "bear no resemblance" to the discussions that have taken place, and he said Mr MacGregor had failed to reply to phone and e-mail messages about meetings.

Mr Turley said he wants to find a solution to the dispute and does not understand Unite's stance.

He added: "Despite this, and despite the extremely weak way that Unite seems to operate in this matter, I personally remain committed to finding that solution."