WALTHAM Forest council has hit back at a threat by refuse staff to strike during the Olympics, claiming they have missed the legal deadline for industrial action during the Games.
Unions said last week that rubbish collection staff and street cleaners working for council contractors Kier were considering the move due to range of grievances, including the drafting in of 91 “untrained” agency works during the Games and alleged cuts in overtime pay.
At the time Kier denied the claims and said it had contingency plans in place if there was a strike.
Cllr Clyde Loakes, cabinet member for environment, wrote in a letter to the Guardian: “In order to strike, unions have to follow a legal process that requires notice to be given first when holding a ballot and then again when holding strike action itself.
“Neither the council nor its contractor Kier have received notification to hold a ballot, and with the Games now almost upon us time restraints would prevent a strike occurring during the Olympics.”
He added: “Your readers should be reassured that the Council is confident bin collections will not be disrupted by strike action during the Olympics, and that appropriate training and checks have been carried out for all staff.
“Let’s get on and enjoy the Games, celebrate what is great about our borough and ignore the mindless scaremongering.”
In a statement last week, a Kier spokeswoman denied there had been any reductions in overtime pay and said disputes over treatment of staff by management were dealt with via internal grievance procedures.
She added: “Contingency plans are built in to the way we run our business. In the event of a strike, Kier will continue to provide a full service to Waltham Forest Council with minimal disruption.”
The spokeswoman said it was true that agency staff had not been CRB [criminal background record] checked, but added: “Appropriate health & safety training is provided to all staff working on the contract.
“Kier can only CRB check staff whose role dictates a requirement by law for CRB checks. We are not legally able to blanket CRB check all staff.”
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