Sheffield waste recycling staff strike over cuts

The strikes are in protest at planned job cuts and opening time changes at recycling centres

Workers at five waste recycling centres in Sheffield have started a third three-day strike over planned changes to opening times and job cuts.

GMB union members have protested outside the council-owned facilities at Shirecliffe, Woodhouse, Gleadless, Deepcar and High Green.

A plan to close sites on weekdays will cut about £500,000 from the council's budget and mean seven job losses.

Sheffield City Council apologised for any inconvenience caused by the strike.

'No other choice'

SOVA Recycling, which is sub-contracted to run the sites, said it was committed to keeping open the Shirecliffe and Woodhouse sites from 10:00 to 18:00 BST while the strike was on.

Waste management contractor Veolia and SOVA Recycling were working with Sheffield City Council to resolve the dispute as soon as possible, the council said.

Jack Scott, the cabinet member for environment, waste and street scene, said he understood the strength of feeling from the staff affected and "their point has been made".

"Unfortunately the funding the council receives from government has been cut to such an extent that we have no other choice but to make these changes," he said.

The GMB in Sheffield said staff at the sites had received hundreds of letters of support from people who were opposed to the closures.