South Tyneside bin bosses deny disciplining helpful staff

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

A council has denied union claims that disciplinary action was taken against refuse workers who helped vulnerable people with their bins.

The GMB union said workers at South Tyneside Council were given warnings for supporting an elderly woman with dementia and helping a disabled person.

A four-day long strike has been announced for next week.

The council has said no disciplinary action has been taken with regards to these events.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: "The council would dispute the claims relating to vulnerable or elderly residents.

"No disciplinary action has been taken in relation to this, as has been suggested by the GMB."

But GMB organiser Mark Wilson said: "Our member encountered an elderly lady in distress in Hebburn, who was clearly upset and couldn't recall how she'd got to where she was.

"After 10 to 15 minutes she had calmed down and he rang waste services where he was instructed to leave her and return to work immediately, or he would face a disciplinary investigation.

"The member chose to stay with the lady."

In relation to the second claim, he said a member returned a bin to a resident's property and then "received a call from the office to say he could be prosecuted for trespass".

No collections warning

An independent investigation into staff complaints was commissioned in September and is ongoing.

The council said: "All matters raised by waste operatives are being considered by an independent investigator.

"The outcome of the investigation, which is aligned to the council's resolving issues at work policy, is expected in the coming weeks.

"The council remains committed to resolving matters through ongoing dialogue and is looking ahead to future Acas conciliation."

Meanwhile, a strike is planned from Tuesday to Friday next week with residents and businesses warned not to expect collections.

Grey household refuse bins, blue recycling bins, green garden waste bins and trade waste will not be collected in South Tyneside on the strike days.