VIRTUALLY no bins in St Helier were emptied today after refuse collectors went on strike over staff shortages.
However, after parish Constable Simon Crowcroft agreed to recruit three staff to give more cover the 25 men agreed to go back to work. But it will probably be several days before normal collections are restored as a result of the industrial action this morning. The men are members of the Transport and General Workers Union and union official Nick Corbel said that they took action because there was insufficient manpower when they arrived at the depot to arrange the rounds. ‘There is some long-term sickness and staff have not been replaced when they have left. The men had had enough. It was only when they took action that this got resolved,’ he said. Mr Corbel said that the Constable had agreed to recruit three new full-time staff. In the meantime people who are receiving parish welfare and on work schemes will be offered the posts temporarily. ‘That will be at full union rates and I hope that they will be happy to do the work,’ said Mr Corbel.
Article posted on 14th May, 2007 - 12.00am
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