Privatisation of waste firm ‘shocks’ union

Unison said it was not consulted about plans to sell Cumbria Waste Group

A union representing Cumbrian refuse workers has said it is “extremely shocked and disappointed” at the sale of a former council-owned company to the private sector.

Unison said it was not consulted about plans to sell Carlisle-based Cumbria Waste Group, which employs about 300 people.

The company said it had briefed union officials about the move before it was announced.

Westmorland and Furness Council said the sale was a “positive step forward”.

Cumbria Waste Group runs recycling centres around the county and provides other refuse services across the north of England and Scotland.

It was owned by Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council through a parent company, Cumbria County Holdings, which has now sold the business to private equity firm Waterland.

Westmorland and Furness Council said it could not disclose the sale price because of “commercial confidentiality”, but the figure would be published in a future budget report.

'Support for growth'

Unison official Laura Tweddle said: “We were extremely disappointed about not being consulted prior to that decision-making process.

“We’re worried about any potential future changes to terms and conditions and particularly the job security of that group of members as well.”

She added that the union is against the privatisation of “workforces such as this”.

Cumbria Waste Group’s chief executive officer Andy Chant said the company met Unison “to provide a briefing prior to the announcement.”

He added: “There are no changes in terms and conditions and no such plans either; rather there is support for the future growth and development of the business for the benefit of all staff and the local supply chain.”

Andrew Jarvis, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet member for Finance, said: “The sale is a positive step forward for Cumbria Waste Group.”

He said it would secure investment for the company that neither council could afford “in the current financial climate”.

The councils declined to comment on Unison’s concerns because the staff were not directly employed by either authority.