Garstang bin collections affected by strike action
WYRE Council has advised residents not to put their waste out tomorrow, Thursday, as local authority employees strike across the country.
Grey bin collections in Great Eccleston, Inskip, Out Rawcliffe, Pilling and surrounding rural areas were cancelled today (Wednesday) due to a reduced workforce.
Tomorrow, the areas affected by the industrial action will be Knott End, Preesall, Stalmine and Hambleton.
Although small crews are carrying out green waste collections, the council is advising residents not to put their bins out.
Grey bins which are not collected today and tomorrow will instead be collected on Friday, July 18, or Saturday, July 19.
Green and recyclable waste will not be taken until the next scheduled collection day (July 30 or 31).
No other Wyre Council services have been disrupted, although funerals have been postponed until after the strike.
The council's benefits assessment centre will be closed for the two days but enquiries should be directed through Connect Wyre on 01253 891000 as usual
All schools in the Garstang area are open as usual.
Rob Posner, Director of Neighbourhood Services for Wyre Borough Council, said: "Although some disruption is inevitable, the council has planned ahead to keep this to a minimum. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause some residents and ask people to be help us by remembering not to put out their recyclable waste until the end of the month."
The workers taking action are members of public sector union UNISON, which is calling 600,000 members out on strike across the country, and members of UNITE.
They are protesting against a below-inflation 2.45% pay increase.
UNISON's North West regional secretary Frank Hont said the planned turn-out was a reflection of how angry members feel about being told they will have to take a pay cut even though money is available to settle the dispute.
He said: "The employers can well afford to come up with a better deal for our members. They are sitting on more than £11.5 billion in council reserves – which have doubled since 2004.
"Councils in England had to make £3 billion in efficiency savings by 2007/08 –they made more than double that.
"These savings have been made possible thanks to the hard work and commitment of our members, yet bosses are telling them they can't afford to improve the current offer on the table."
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Last Updated:
16 July 2008 12:34 PM
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Source:
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Location:
Garstang