South Tyneside bin strike means no collections for four days

Bins in South Tyneside will not be collected from 14 to 17 November

People in South Tyneside are being told not to put their bins out for four days next week because of strike action.

The GMB union said "workers were given warnings for supporting a lost, elderly, distressed woman living with dementia and for carrying a wheelie bin back up steep front steps for a disabled resident".

The council said it is committed to resolving the dispute and discussions are continuing.

The strike runs from 14 to 17 November.

Services affected include the collection of grey household refuse bins, blue recycling bin, green garden waste bin and trade waste.

'Toxic culture'

GMB organiser Mark Wilson said: "To get a warning for showing common decency by helping elderly and disabled people is sickening.

"After years of promising and failing to tackle the toxic culture in the yard we have had no choice but to take strike action."

Unite regional officer Dave Telford said: "They are striking because, despite repeated requests for action to be taken to make the working culture less toxic, nothing has changed."

An independent investigation into the claims was commissioned in September and is ongoing.

A South Tyneside Council spokesperson said: "Though we are disappointed they are planning to take this course of action before the outcome of the independent investigation, we remain committed to resolving the dispute through ongoing dialogue, mediation and conciliation.

"We appeal for patience during this time and politely ask that in preparation residents reduce their waste as much as they can and continue to recycle responsibly."

Workers are currently taking action short of a strike, which also means some bins have not been collected.

The council says it does not have the resources to complete a catch-up collection after the strike.

Extra slots at the Recycling Village have been made available to residents during November.